India releases water into the Sutlej River exacerbates monsoon floods in Pakistan, submerging villages and prompting urgent evacuations in Punjab. On Monday, September 1, 2025, India released water into the Sutlej River, intensifying monsoon floods in Pakistan’s Punjab, submerging 10 villages, displacing thousands, and prompting authorities to issue high alerts for the next 48 hours.
India’s release of water into the Sutlej amplifies the devastating impact of monsoon floods in Pakistan, straining regional relations and highlighting the need for coordinated water management under the Indus Waters Treaty to mitigate cross-border flood risks.
Punjab’s Crisis Increased: India Releases Water
The release of water by India into the Sutlej has worsened monsoon floods in Pakistan, particularly in Punjab’s Kasur district. On Monday, September 1, 2025, the water discharge at Ganda Singh headworks reached 240,000 cusecs, down from a peak of 385,000 cusecs but still classified as an “exceptionally high flood,” according to official statements from the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). The Jalaldinwala embankment was washed away, submerging crops in 10 downstream villages, including Fatohiwala, Chohriwala, and Wazirpur. The administration fears that a breach at the Talwar post dyke could flood villages near Kasur city.
Evacuations and Rescue Efforts
Rescue operations are in full swing, with Punjab PDMA reporting that 70,000 people and 169,000 animals have been evacuated from flood-hit areas as of Monday, September 1, 2025. Rescue 1122 teams saved a boat carrying two families and charity volunteers in Kanganpur’s Kothi Fateh Muhammad area after an engine failure. Tragically, two people drowned in the floodwaters. The PDMA has warned that the next 48 hours, until Wednesday, September 3, 2025, are critical due to the sustained high water flow.
Regional Impact and Infrastructure Damage
Monsoon floods in Pakistan, compounded by India’s water release, have affected over 2 million people across 2,222 villages in Punjab since Saturday, August 23, 2025. The PDMA reported 33 deaths and eight injuries from August 23 to August 31, 2025. Relief efforts include 506 camps sheltering 10,654 people and 352 medical camps treating 17,853 individuals. The floods have damaged crops, particularly rice, sugarcane, and sesame, devastating Punjab’s agricultural economy.
Background
The Sutlej River, governed by the Indus Waters Treaty, is a shared resource between India and Pakistan. India’s unilateral release of water from dams like Bhakra and Salal, often without prior notification through the Indus Water Commission, has been a point of contention. According to posts on X by the Foreign Office of Pakistan, India communicated flood warnings on Saturday, August 24, 2025, through diplomatic channels rather than the treaty’s framework, prompting criticism. Heavy rainfall in India’s Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh has also contributed to the flooding, with the IMD reporting 74% above-normal rainfall in Punjab during August 2025.
What’s Next
As India releases water into the Sutlej, Pakistan braces for continued monsoon floods, with authorities focusing on evacuations and infrastructure protection to mitigate further damage through Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, September 2nd, 2025
Follow SouthAsianDesk on X, Instagram, and Facebook for insights on business and current affairs from across South Asia.
