As the situation continues to unfold, • Breaches in Deg and Bherr nullahs erode bridge foundations • Trains bound for Karachi diverted via Sahiwal and Khanewal • Engineering teams waiting for water to recede before making repairs • Tarbela nears maximum capacity; PMD warns of continued flood risk in major rivers LAHORE: As the Ravi and Che­nab rivers continue to flow at med­ium and low flood levels, respectively, breaches in Nullah Deg and Bherr have wreaked havoc across the catchment area, eroding soil beneath railway bri­dges and forcing the suspension of rail traffic on the Lahore-Fais­alabad section via Shahdara and Sheikhupura. Flooding cau­sed breaches at 25 locations along the route. Officials are expected to release further statements.

Background

Context is essential to fully grasping the implications of this development.

“ Following the massive floodwater that caused erosion, isolating the railway line at two bridges — including a major bridge near Qila Sattar Shah on the Lahore-Shahdara-Sheikhupura-Faisal­abad section — we have been left with no option but to suspend all passenger and freight train operations, ” Pakistan Railways Lah­ore Divisional Superi­nten­dent Inam-ullah Khan told Dawn.

Departures cancelled Pakistan Railways has cancelled all departures originating from Lahore to Faisalabad as well as Lahore-Karachi and Khanewal-Lahore trains via Faisalabad.

As the story continues to develop, trains being diverted The source said Karachi-bound trains that normally travel via Faisalabad would instead be diverted through Sahiwal and Khanewal, while services operating exclusively between Lahore and Faisalabad would remain suspended until the damaged track is restored.

Analysis

Experts and analysts have begun weighing in on what this means going forward.

As stated by to another railway official, the Karakoram Express and Shalimar Express will operate on alternative routes, bypassing Faisalabad.

What has become increasingly clear is that the Karachi-bound Karakoram Express ( 42-Down) will depart Lahore at its scheduled time of 3pm but will travel via Sahiwal instead of Faisalabad.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, similarly, the Karachi-bound Shalimar Express arriving in Lahore will furthermore be diverted through Sahiwal.

National Impact

The story's impact will be felt at multiple levels — local, national, and beyond.

Railway authorities also disclosed the cancellation of the Badr Express and Ghori Express, both of which operate between Lahore and Faisalabad.

In what observers are describing as a key detail, sources said the latest spell of heavy monsoon rains had disrupted railway operations on several routes originating from Lahore and Faisalabad, causing delays, diversions and cancellations.

Compounding the significance of these events, the study declared the Indus River was flowing in low flood at Tarbela, Kalabagh, Taunsa and Guddu, with a discharge of 323,884 cusecs recorded at Chacharan Sharif ( Benazir Pul) in Rajanpur.

Observers have also noted that tarbela dam rises 3ft in a day The torrential rain and flash floods have considerably increased the water level in the Tarbela dam reservoir to 1531.11 feet, leaving it merely 19 feet short of the maximum conservation mark.

In a related development, the Tarbela reservoir has maximum conservation level of 1,550 feet and minimum operating level of 1,402ft.

What Happens Next

What this development ultimately means remains to be seen. But its significance — both in the immediate term and over the longer horizon — is already being felt by those involved and those watching from the outside.