ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s disaster management agency on Tuesday warned of a potential flood situation along the Sutlej River due to sharp increases in water discharge and forecast heavy rainfall across northern India, as the country’s monsoon death toll climbed to 302.
The Sutlej, one of the five rivers that flow through Punjab province, runs from the Himalayas through India into eastern Pakistan. The alert comes as Pakistan continues to grapple with widespread monsoon damage.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), more than half of the 302 deaths since July 26 have occurred due to house collapses, followed by drownings and flash floods. Over 700 people have also been injured.
“As of 5 August 2025, River Sutlej’s discharge at downstream Ferozepur (Ganda Singh Wala) rose sharply from 28,657 to 33,653 cusecs within an hour, indicating an upward trend,” the NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) said in a statement.
“While the situation currently remains normal, further rise is anticipated due to forecasted heavy rainfall over Sutlej and Beas catchments in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, as well as releases from Pong Dam [in India] through the power station.”
