Boats Capsize in Punjab Floods, Killing Children as Death Toll Rises; Vast Agricultural Losses Reported

Lahore/Multan/Bahawalpur — Flood devastation in Pakistan’s Punjab province continues, with multiple boat accidents claiming lives as rivers overflow and inundate vast stretches of farmland. At least three children were killed and nine people remain missing after rescue boats carrying flood victims capsized in Jallapur Pirwala and Alipur.

In Muzafargarh’s Alipur tehsil, a rescue boat carrying over 10 people overturned when a man tried to hang onto it, causing it to lose balance. Fortunately, all passengers were rescued safely. However, in Khan Bela, a capsized boat claimed the life of a two-month-old infant, while in Mohana Sandeela, a four-year-old child drowned despite 18 others being pulled to safety.

Meanwhile, in Rahim Yar Khan’s Noorwala area, the death toll from a separate boat tragedy has climbed to eight after two more bodies were recovered. Victims include three children, four women, and one man, while search operations continue for one missing person.

Elsewhere, in Bahawalnagar, a high flood in the Sutlej River breached protective embankments near Bhakan Pattan, inundating 145 villages across 150 km of river belt. More than 120,000 acres of standing crops have been destroyed, dozens of schools shut indefinitely, and many communities cut off after roads were washed away. Food, medicines, and fodder shortages are being reported.

In Multan’s Gardezi Pur village, rescuers recovered the body of 25-year-old Muhammad Jafar, who drowned two days earlier while trying to save livestock. Authorities also cut a breach into Uch Sharif Road to divert floodwaters and protect Jallapur city.

The Chenab River at Head Panjnad is now at extremely high flood levels, with water flows exceeding 668,000 cusecs and rising again after three days of decline. The Indus at Taunsa Barrage is also swelling, while the Sutlej remains at high flood at Ganda Singh Wala following India’s continued release of upstream waters.

Agricultural losses are mounting: more than 2.1 million acres of farmland across Punjab have been submerged. Crops destroyed include:

Cotton: 110,850 acres

Rice: 970,929 acres

Maize: 186,419 acres

Sugarcane: 220,344 acres

Vegetables: 115,260 acres

Fodder: 405,000 acres

Floodwaters from Punjab have now entered Sindh. At Sukkur Barrage, authorities declared a medium flood as 400,000 cusecs passed through the structure, while the Indus at Guddu Barrage recorded nearly 495,000 cusecs. Pakistan Navy teams are conducting rescue operations in low-lying “katcha” areas.

Officials warn the situation remains critical, particularly in Liaquatpur, Head Sulaimanki, and Panjnad, where embankments are under severe pressure.