Sutlej Swells as India’s Water Release Inundates Kasur Villages
The River Sutlej has overflowed after India released heavy inflows, inundating dozens of villages in Kasur and destroying thousands of acres of farmland. Rescue teams confirmed that villagers and livestock are being shifted to safer areas, but floodwaters continue to spread across Punjab.
In Burewala, floodwaters cut off hundreds of villages after breaching the Sahu Ka–Chishtian road, leaving families stranded. Farmers in Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar saw their main crops of cotton, rice, and sesame washed away. Many families abandoned ancestral homes, carrying what little they could while wading through waist-deep waters.
The Flood Forecasting Division reported a medium flood passing Head Sulemanki, while the Chenab and Indus Rivers also show rising levels at several barrages.
In a rare development, India contacted Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) to warn of potential floods in the Tawi River at Jammu, the first such exchange since military clashes in May. Despite decades of disputes and conflicts, the IWT—signed in 1960 and mediated by the World Bank—remains intact as a critical safeguard for river management between the two countries.
The situation highlights the urgent need for cooperation, as flooding continues to endanger lives and livelihoods across Punjab.
