ISLAMABAD: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab on Tuesday warned that the River Sutlej could reach medium flood level within the next 24 hours, with the level expected to persist for up to two days, though most rivers across the province currently remain within safe limits.

The advisory follows weeks of heavy monsoon rains that have killed more than 1,000 people nationwide, displaced thousands, and damaged over 2.5 million acres of farmland, according to official figures. Punjab — Pakistan’s agricultural heartland — has experienced repeated flooding since August after excess water releases from India and persistent rainfall left riverbanks and embankments saturated.

“The River Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala is expected to reach the Medium Flood Level within the next 24 hours and sustain the level for the subsequent two days,” the PDMA said in its latest advisory, referring to a border town and river monitoring point located near Kasur district in Punjab along the Pakistan–India border.

The agency said water levels in the Sutlej and Ravi rivers depend on releases from Indian reservoirs and directed all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners to remain on high alert. It also placed the Health, Irrigation, Communication and Works, Local Government, and Livestock Departments on standby for possible flood response operations.

PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said the River Sutlej currently has a low flood level at the Ganda Singh Wala point, adding that flows could increase in the next 48 hours due to upstream inflows and rainfall in the catchment areas.

“District administrations have been directed to stay alert as water levels in Punjab’s rivers and associated tributaries may rise due to continuing rainfall,” Kathia said.

The PDMA instructed all relevant departments to ensure round-the-clock staffing in emergency centers, activation of early warning systems, and pre-placement of heavy machinery in at-risk areas to manage potential breaches or road damage.

Citizens were urged to exercise caution during bad weather and stay informed through official PDMA updates. The agency said its control room was monitoring river flows continuously, coordinating with the Irrigation Department and local administrations for real-time response.