LAHORE: An area spread over 1,449 sq km of three districts of Sheikhupura, Gujranwala and Narowal has been badly affected by the recent spells of torrential rains, urban flooding and overflowing of the storm water drains, according to the government.
On the other hand, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Inam Haider Malik visited the flood-affected areas of Sheikhupura district’s tehsils of Ferozewala and Muridke on Sunday and received a briefing on the losses and damages.
“The total affected area consists of nearly 1,450 sq km in the districts of Sheikhupura, Gujranwala and Narowal. Sheikhupura is the worst affected among three where 750 sq km area is flooded,” Lahore Commissioner Nauman Yousaf confirmed while speaking to Dawn on Sunday.
According to him, the floodwater accumulated in several parts of Sheikhupura has receded considerably, allowing the residents to return and resume the routine activities.
Sheikhupura worst affected; urban flooding forecast for various cities of Punjab until 6th
“All areas, except some low-lying ones, are completely dry now. We, in collaboration with the Housing & Urban Development Department and others concerned, are draining out water from the low-lying areas these days.”
To a question, he claimed that the affected families had been provided with food, dried fruit and other eatables. Besides, they are also being given cooked food at the relief camps. For animals, the fodder is being provided to the people to feed their cattle.
“Clinic on wheels have been mobilised in the affected areas. Moreover, medicines are also being provided to the affectees reporting at camps with illness,” the commissioner maintained.
Talking about the visit of the NDMA chairman, he said NDMA’s emergency response committee, led by the chairman, also paid a visit to the affected areas where he was briefed about the ongoing rescue and relief works.
“During briefing, the NDMA chairman assured the PDMA director general and senior officials concerned of cooperation. He also sought a detailed report on the losses related to standing crops, houses, valuables etc,” the commissioner added.
To another question, he claimed that situation in Lahore was under control as there was no flood threat to the areas along the 45km stretch of the River Ravi.
“Ruda officials in a briefing told us that considerable work related to the construction of embankments has been completed,” he said, adding that he would look into the issues related to encroachments in the Ravi riverbed. He revealed that water level in most nullahs, especially the Dek, Nikki Dek and Bhed has come down considerably.
Meanwhile, the senior officials of Lahore Division inspected Pathan Colony, a worst-affected locality in the area of Ferozewala, where a medical camp was established for affected residents.
On this occasion, the officials were told that the colony’s streets had been fully restored to facilitate the movement of residents and emergency services. They were also told that the flood relief camps had been equipped with medical facilities, livestock services, clean drinking water, cooked food, dry rations, mist fans, security arrangements and sanitation services to ensure the welfare of displaced families.
Clinic on rescue boats teams continued to provide medical treatment to residents stranded in inundated areas while container hospitals and fully functional medical facilities at relief camps were also offering healthcare services.
The residents of Noorpur Basti have access to the flood relief camp through a raised road, ensuring uninterrupted movement despite the flooding.
On the other hand, the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted medium to high level flows in the nullahs of Jhelum, Chenab (Dora, Dotta, Dowara, Bhimber, Halsi, Aik and Palkhu) and Ravi (Bein, Bassanter, Dek and Sakki) with flash flooding expected in the hill torrents of DG Khan, the streams of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, River Kabul and its associated tributaries, and northern Balochistan until Aug 6.
It also warned about the possible urban flooding in parts of Punjab, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Gujrat, Narowal, and Faisalabad.
The division expects River Chenab to fluctuate between low to medium flood level at Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad with River Indus remaining at low flood level in the upstream at Sukkur Barrage in the next 24 hours.Commissioner Nauman Yousaf visited the flood-affected areas along Nullah Dek, Somoria Nullah and Nikki Dek to review relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2026
