MULTAN(National times)- A fresh surge in floodwaters from the River Sutlej has caused severe damage in Bahawalpur as embankments were breached and floodwaters inundated nearby settlements. In the village of Sahlan, the breach in the Zamindara Bund led to the flooding of Basti Hussainabad and surrounding areas, resulting in the collapse of several houses and forcing residents to evacuate. Meanwhile, authorities have issued a red alert following the arrival of a new flood wave from Head Trimmu. Deputy Commissioner of Multan warned that a powerful surge of over 414,000 cusecs is expected to hit the embankments around Multan within the next two days. Residents of riverine areas have been urged to avoid returning to their homes. The DC also expressed concern over the slow discharge of the current flood wave within Multan’s river boundaries, which has already affected parts of Shujaabad and Jalalpur Pirwala. Due to the sluggish flow, a reduction in water level has not occurred as expected over the past 36 hours. If the intensity of the new wave increases, officials may reconsider breaching operations to manage the pressure. Sindh govt closely monitoring flood situation Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Friday said that Sindh government is closely monitoring the flood situation and all the relevant departments are on alert. In a statement, he said that the floodwater flow in rivers and barrages remains unstable, with low-level flooding recorded at Guddu, Sukkur, Kotri, and Marala. Sharjeel Inam Memon said over 169 medical camps have been set up in flood-affected areas, providing aid to nearly 28,000 people so far. He said that the Sindh government is coordinating with Punjab to manage the situation effectively. Sharjeel Memon further stated that the Sindh government has ensured all protective measures, and more than 109,000 people from the Katcha (riverine) areas have been relocated to safe locations. Floodwaters Begin to Recede in Punjab The water level in major rivers across Punjab is gradually receding, according to officials from the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). The flow in River Sutlej has begun to decline, with similar trends observed at Head Islam and Sulemanki. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia confirmed that no new flood surge has been reported from India, and water levels in Punjab’s rivers are expected to continue falling. However, he warned that floodwaters are expected to enter Sindh by tonight, with a surge of 700,000 to 800,000 cusecs anticipated. Kathia noted that another high flood wave is expected at Sher Shah Bund. Meanwhile, flood devastation continues across several regions. In Ahmedpur East, multiple areas are submerged, and in Chacharan, a massive flood wave of 800,000 to 900,000 cusecs is expected to hit within 48 hours. In Rahim Yar Khan, 34 villages have been severely impacted, while in Alipur, water from River Chenab has entered nearby settlements, damaging hundreds of acres of crops. Over 2,000 homes in Sher Shah village of Muzaffargarh have been affected by floodwaters. Authorities have issued a high flood alert in Pindi Bhattian, where a wave of 557,000 cusecs is passing through. In Ahmedpur Sial, a breach in the Sumand Wana Bund has submerged several areas. A 35-year-old man, Ghulam Abbas Chadhar, drowned in the floodwaters. In Burewala, the flow at Jumlera has reached 160,000 cusecs. A 16-year-old boy tragically drowned in floodwaters in Saldira. Meanwhile, the total flood-related death toll in Punjab has risen to 51.