A major breach in a protective dyke near the villages of Kot Nakka and Kot Ghulam in Gujrat has resulted in the flooding of at least 625 acres of farmland, leaving entire communities at risk as the River Chenab continues to swell. As floodwaters surge towards nearby settlements, hundreds of residents are being evacuated, and an urgent relief effort is underway.
Local farmers and residents expressed frustration, blaming the district administration for ignoring repeated warnings about the vulnerable condition of the dyke. According to villagers, the breach had been identified days earlier but no preventive repairs were undertaken. With the collapse of the dyke, floodwaters quickly inundated agricultural land and began advancing into residential areas.
In response, the Punjab government intervened and directed the Gujrat administration to launch emergency operations. Police, army units, and rescue agencies, including Rescue 1122, have been deployed to assist with evacuations and rescue efforts. Witnesses reported around 20 emergency vehicles at the site, working in difficult conditions as continuous heavy rainfall hampered the operation.
Residents of Kot Nikka, Kot Ghulam, and Kheeranwali said the situation was deteriorating rapidly, with many people fleeing with their belongings as floodwaters approached their homes. The flow of water from the River Chenab has been described as dangerously strong, further complicating evacuation and rescue tasks.
Flood engineers stationed at Head Marala attributed the high river inflows to persistent upstream rains, warning that continued rainfall could lead to additional breaches in the region. Local farmers have urgently appealed for relief provisions, including tents and animal fodder, to limit further losses and help displaced families survive.
Authorities stated that efforts were ongoing to repair the breached dyke and stem the flow of water, though on-the-ground accounts indicated significant damage had already occurred. The sudden collapse of the Kot Nikka dyke has devastated what was supposed to be a season of harvest, leaving many families facing uncertainty and loss.
