Ravi River Floods Put Shahdara on High Alert

LAHORE — August 29, 2025 — The flood situation in the Ravi River at Shahdara has reached a critical level, with authorities placing the area on high alert as water levels continue to rise dangerously close to capacity.

Current Situation at Shahdara

• High Alert Issued: The Ravi River is flowing at nearly 220,000 cusecs, against a maximum capacity of 250,000 cusecs.
• Inundation Reported: Low-lying villages and urban areas, including Shafiqabad, Farrakhabad, Tallat Park, and private housing societies, have been flooded.
• Evacuation Underway: The Pakistan Army, Rangers, and Rescue 1122 are actively assisting with evacuations and relocating families to safe zones.
• Breach at Bhiko Chak: A breach in the river embankment has forced evacuations from nearby settlements.

Wider Context of Flooding

• The flooding is the result of heavy monsoon rains coupled with a surge of water from upstream.
• Reports suggest that India’s release of water into the Ravi River has worsened the crisis.
• Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has confirmed this is among the worst floods in recent years, impacting hundreds of villages and displacing over a million people.
• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned of fresh rainfall, raising fears of further flooding in Punjab.

Government Response

• Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bokhari stated that while Shahdara faces an exceptionally high flood, the situation remains “under control.”
• She further noted that embankments could be intentionally breached if required to protect Lahore city.

A Looming Crisis

With water levels continuing to rise and weather forecasts predicting more rain, the Ravi flood poses a serious risk to both rural and urban populations in Lahore’s outskirts. Authorities remain on round-the-clock alert, but residents have been urged to move to safer ground immediately.