Sindh, Pakistan — The flood situation in southern Pakistan has worsened as water levels at Kotri Barrage on the Indus River continued to rise, threatening nearby districts and devastating agricultural lands.

According to the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) Lahore, water inflows at Kotri increased by 12,000 cusecs within the last 24 hours, pushing the total discharge to 420,000 cusecs. The barrage remains under a medium-level flood threat, while Mangla Dam is nearing full capacity. Other major rivers in the country have begun to stabilize, but Kotri continues to pose serious risks.

In Thatta district, floodwaters have engulfed several riverine (katcha) villages, leaving hundreds of acres of farmland under water. Key crops such as rice, cotton, bananas, and papayas have been badly damaged, raising concerns about food security and the livelihoods of local farmers.

Evacuation efforts are underway as residents are being shifted to protective embankments and safer areas. In Jamshoro district, flood pressures are rising in Inner Pur, Shah Owais Union Council, and surrounding katcha villages. In Nawabshah (Shaheed Benazirabad), floodwaters have surrounded multiple settlements near the Sakrand Mid-Mangli protective embankment, forcing locals to abandon their homes.

The situation remains precarious in Sujawal, where protective dykes along the Indus River are under severe pressure. District authorities have established tent villages to provide shelter for displaced families.

Meanwhile, in Punjab’s Jalalpur Pirwala, already battered by floods from the Chenab and Sutlej rivers, waters have not receded. Dozens of settlements remain submerged, with displaced families still stranded along the Uch Sharif Road, waiting for floodwaters to drain before they can return home.

Infrastructure damage has compounded the crisis. A major breach at the Noraja Bhutta dyke is still under repair, while a key section of the M-5 Motorway between Multan and Jhangra Interchange has remained closed for the 14th consecutive day, disrupting transportation and relief efforts.

Utility services have also been hit. Repair work continues on a damaged Sui gas pipeline that has disrupted supply to several districts. In Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalnagar, and Bahawalpur, vast stretches of land remain waterlogged, with authorities beginning a detailed survey of losses to agriculture, infrastructure, and housing.

The flooding has highlighted once again the vulnerability of Pakistan’s southern belt to seasonal monsoon rains and river overflows. With crops ruined, homes submerged, and infrastructure crippled, affected communities now face an uphill battle in recovery. Relief agencies and local administrations are racing against time to provide food, shelter, and medical aid to the displaced, but many families remain in urgent need of assistance.

As water levels continue to threaten Kotri Barrage and its surrounding areas, experts warn that the coming days will be critical. Authorities are closely monitoring embankments and protective dykes, while emergency measures are being intensified to prevent further breaches.