Authorities in Multan are preparing for a possible suspension of several train services as flood pressure on the Chenab River intensifies. The district administration has taken the drastic step of cutting into the Shershah embankment to redirect water, but railway officials warn that the move could force the closure of nearby rail lines.
If the embankment gives way, services such as the Thal Express, Mehr Express, and DG Khan Shuttle are expected to be halted.
Road Links Severed, Region Cut Off
The impact of the floods is already visible on the ground. With Head Muhammad Wala and Shershah roads shut down, Multan has effectively lost direct road connections to Muzaffargarh, DG Khan, Layyah, Bhakkar, and even farther-flung parts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This isolation is raising concerns over supply chains, emergency access, and regional connectivity.
Rising Tensions Over Sutlej Water Release
Complicating the situation further, India has released additional water into the Sutlej River. Islamabad has called the move a breach of the Indus Waters Treaty, noting that the sudden release increases the risk of severe flooding on the Pakistani side.
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources, the country was informed through diplomatic channels that heavy flows were expected at Harike and Ferozepur in India.
Fresh Flood Alerts Issued
In anticipation, Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has sounded the alarm. Officials warn that Sutlej’s water levels are likely to rise in the coming hours, and communities downstream have been advised to remain on high alert.
The dual pressure from Chenab and Sutlej poses a serious challenge for southern Punjab, where transportation lines are already strained. Authorities fear that if rail services shut down, the region could be left almost entirely cut off.
