Floods Bring Major Rail Disruptions Across Punjab and Beyond

Severe monsoon floods have dealt a heavy blow to Pakistan Railways, forcing the closure of multiple routes across Punjab and causing delays in other provinces. With tracks submerged and key bridges damaged, officials say restoration is underway but warn that full recovery will take time.

Punjab’s Key Rail Links Severed

• Narowal–Sialkot line: Out of service since August 27 after floodwaters breached the track and displaced a span of Bridge No. 7 near Aik Nullah. Authorities aim to reopen by September 12, provided repairs stay on schedule.
• Chak Jhumra–Shaheenabad (Sargodha) section: Closed since August 29 after destructive floods near Chiniot damaged Bridges No. 132 and 134. Reconstruction is ongoing.
• Wazirabad–Sialkot section: Shut down on September 3 when floodwaters overtopped the line between Wazirabad and Sodhra Kopra, making travel unsafe.
• Jhang–Shaheenabad route: Suspended since August 28 due to a breach near the Rivaz Railway Bridge over the River Chenab, where water is still cutting through the track.
• Khanewal–Shorkot section: Initially suspended on September 3 after high water levels at Abdul Hakim Bridge No. 27, conditions worsened with further breaches reported the next day.

Smaller Disruptions Add to the Chaos

Not all routes were completely shut, but many suffered delays or partial suspensions:

• Shahdra–Faisalabad line: Trains slowed due to an embankment cut at Bridge No. 10.
• Lahore–Badami Bagh: Tezgam Express halted for nearly an hour after a fallen tree blocked the track.
• Uggoki–Sialkot: Services delayed by two hours when water rose a foot above track level.
• Port Qasim–Bin Qasim line: Closed for 12 hours on August 20 after breaches on both sides.
• Kotri–Dadu: Blocked for three hours on the same day due to mudslides.
• Tando Adam–Hyderabad (freight): Suspended for 15 hours on August 22 after waterlogging swamped Hyderabad yard.
• Peshawar Saddar–Cantt (KP): Shut down for two hours on August 18 following urban flooding.

A System Under Pressure

The widespread closures highlight how vulnerable Pakistan’s railway network is to seasonal flooding. Many of the affected lines serve as critical passenger and freight corridors, and the repeated suspensions have disrupted travel and goods movement at a time when road transport is also strained.

Authorities say efforts are underway to restore the most crucial routes first, but with floodwaters still present in several areas, timelines remain uncertain.