According to officials, the Right Downstream Dyke of the barrage was deliberately blown up with underground mines in the presence of the Pakistan Army and local administration. The drastic step was taken after water inflow at Qadirabad surged past 935,000 cusecs and was projected to exceed 1 million cusecs by late afternoon.

“This measure was necessary to save the barrage,” the administration confirmed, explaining that the controlled breach would help divert water away from the barrage and other critical infrastructure. Officials warned that this is the largest flood wave since 2014, when over 950,000 cusecs of water had passed through the same point.

The breach, however, has unleashed widespread flooding in Hafizabad district. Reports indicate that dozens of villages, including Kot Saleem, Bagh Sidan, and Bari Tarar, have been inundated, forcing thousands of residents to abandon their homes and migrate to safer areas.

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Local farmers have suffered devastating losses as thousands of acres of standing crops have been submerged, wiping out the seasonal harvest. Families in affected villages are seen carrying belongings on carts and tractors as they move towards higher ground.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army and rescue teams have been deployed across flood-hit regions to assist in evacuations and provide relief to displaced families. Authorities have urged residents in low-lying areas to remain vigilant, warning that more villages may come under threat as water levels continue to rise.