A historic Sikh shrine in Kartarpur has been swallowed by floodwaters after the Ravi River burst through a key embankment, trapping hundreds and cutting off surrounding roads.
Local officials confirmed that 200 to 300 people are stranded near Gurdwara Darbar Sahib as floodwaters inundate the site, prompting a large-scale evacuation effort led by the Pakistan Army. Rescue teams are using boats to reach families stuck in submerged neighborhoods.
Ravi River Breach Sparks Emergency
The flooding escalated when a protective levee near Bheko Chak collapsed, sending a torrent of water into Kartarpur and nearby villages. Authorities reported water levels surging to over 250,000 cusecs at Kot Ninan in Shakargarh, forcing the closure of the Narowal–Shakargarh road — a vital route in the region.
Several low-lying areas, including Bheko Chak, Nowshera, Nowgaza, Mandikhel, Bhajna, and the Kartarpur main highway, are now completely submerged.
Punjab’s River System Under Strain
The crisis extends well beyond the Ravi. The Chenab River is swelling dangerously, with inflows at Marala exceeding 769,000 cusecs and Khanki recording 755,000 cusecs. Water levels at Shahdara, Baloki Headworks, and Ganda Singh Wala are also climbing, putting pressure on flood defenses across Punjab.
Officials fear further breaches if heavy rainfall continues, a scenario that could worsen displacement and damage in already inundated districts.
Authorities Urge Residents to Evacuate Early
The Punjab disaster management teams have issued warnings, urging people in vulnerable areas to move to higher ground and cooperate with rescue operations. Army and local administration teams are setting up relief camps and working around the clock to minimize casualties.
This flood disaster highlights the strain on Pakistan’s aging river embankments, with climate-driven extreme weather intensifying flood risks each monsoon season. Experts have long warned that insufficient investment in flood defenses could leave communities like Kartarpur increasingly exposed.
