A massive flood has threatened Jalalpur Pirwala, a tehsil in Multan district, as the Chenab River continues to swell, prompting authorities to evacuate residents from the city of 500,000.

Low-lying neighborhoods have already been inundated, and helicopters have been deployed to rescue people from hard-to-reach areas.

Over 9,000 people have been rescued in Multan, while more than 350,000 residents and 300,000 livestock have been evacuated across the district.

Tragically, at least five people, including four children, drowned when a rescue boat capsized amid strong currents.

Additional incidents of drowning were reported near Head Panjnad as residents tried to reach submerged homes. Authorities continue search and rescue operations to save more lives.

The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has dispatched helicopters and rescue boats to aid affected communities, while downstream cities like Muzaffargarh, Alipur, and Jatoi have been urged to evacuate immediately.

Meanwhile, torrential rains are forecast across Pakistan, particularly in Sindh and Punjab, increasing the risk of urban flooding, flash floods, and landslides in hilly regions.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed authorities to ensure essential supplies, including petroleum, reach flood-affected areas without disruption, while monitoring of dams and water reservoirs continues to safeguard communities.

Authorities and rescue teams remain on high alert, emphasizing the urgent need for coordinated relief and public cooperation to protect lives amid this unfolding disaster.