LAHORE: After the recent rain, the increasing flow of wastewater in Hudiara drain — a deeply polluted wastewater channel that comes from India and passes through Lahore before falling into the River Ravi, has entered Kanghawala village near Sundar Industrial Estate, inundating its streets, houses and fields, especially those situated in the low-lying areas near the riverbed in the jurisdictions of the Ravi Urban Development Authority (Ruda).

Since it is the first untoward event of the ongoing monsoon in Lahore, the district administration failed to evacuate the people from houses or provide them with facilities to protect them from the floodwater, leaving them with no option but to do arrangements on their own.

On the other hand, the River Chenab continues to be in high flood while the Ravi also entered the medium flood situation with various nullahs flowing more than their capacity, Dawn has learnt.

“There was no relief camp and none from the administration was there to see the situation. When the deputy commissioner reached the location on Friday, the wastewater flowing in the drain had already entered the village,” an official source revealed while talking to Dawn on Friday.

Chenab flowing in high flood, Ravi in medium

According to irrigation department, the Hudiara Drain originates in Gurdaspur district of India and enters Pakistan at RD-138 near village Lalo, and outfalls at RD 308, approximately 3,000 feet downstream of Multan Road. Beyond the outfall, the drainage flow enters a natural creek and ultimately discharges into the Ravi. The area between the outfall and the Ravi consists mainly of riverine agricultural lands and settlements in the form of outhouses. DC Muhammad Ali Ijaz visited the drain and inspected it up to its outfall at RD 308 near Mohlanwal (Lahore), Multan Road. During the inspection, the drain was observed to be functioning normally and the drainage flow was passing smoothly without any obstruction within the engineered reach.

“During the inspection, it was observed that further downstream, the natural creek had overtopped its left bank, allowing water to spread into the adjoining low-lying area and enter village Kanghawala. This overflow occurred within the natural floodplain due to the limited carrying capacity of the creek under increased drainage flow,” explained the official.

“Overall, the engineered portion of the drain up to RD 308 remained fully functional, while the downstream inundation was confined to the natural creek reach leading towards the Ravi,” he added.

According to an official source in the irrigation department, various nullahs are flowing more than their capacity due to rains. Husri Nullah’s capacity is 7,000 cusecs whereas it is currently flowing at 12,000 cusecs. The Nikki Deg Nullah’s capacity is also 7,000 cusecs whereas its actual flow is 9,000 cusecs there. The Main Deg Nullah’s capacity is 19,000 cusecs while it is flowing at 22,000 cusecs.

“Tehsil Muridke in Sheikhupura and Gujranwala areas are under threat of inundation due to surface runoff/precipitation near about 250mm. Almost collecting and draining the surface runoff of 185 sq km. The discharge from aforementioned nullahs/channels ultimately outfalls in Deg Diversion Channel and before entering the Ravi in Sharaqpur tehsil of Sheikhupura. Secondly, the floodwater discharge in the Ravi at Shahdara is 25,407 cusecs whereas discharge of the river at Baloki is 87,715 cusecs,” he explained.

Meanwhile, according to the flood forecasting division of Pakistan Meteorological Department, the Chenab continues to be in high flood at Chiniot while the Ravi also entered the medium flood situation on Friday.

The River Chenab at Chiniot Bridge is in high flood level. At Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad, it is in medium flood level. The River Indus at Tarbela, Kalabagh, Chashma, Taunsa is in low flood. All other gauging points are in their normal state.

It warned medium to high level flows in river Chenab at Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad during next 24 hours, flash flooding in the hill torrents of DG Khan, the streams of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Balochistan and Urban Flooding in Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Hafizabad and Lahore.

The commissioner as well as the DC were not available for comments despite calls made by this reporter.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2026