Shakargarh: The historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, has been badly hit by floods as rising waters of the Ravi river entered the shrine complex. Visuals and reports from the site confirm that several feet of water have accumulated in the gurdwara’s premises, submerging four steps of the main staircase and leaving the mazaar and samadh on the ground floor underwater.
Sources said two to three feet of stagnant water is standing inside the gurdwara, raising concerns over further deterioration. However, according to Tribune, an Indian news website, the sacred Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and sevadars (volunteers) are safe on the first floor. Pakistani authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have prepared contingency plans, including possible helicopter evacuations, should the water level continue to rise.
The floods have not only impacted the gurdwara but also surrounding areas. Villages near Kartarpur Sahib have been submerged, and the Kartarpur–Narowal road has been breached, cutting off local transport and disrupting daily life.
A nearby village in Wazirabad has also been flooded as one of the residents narrated that the boundary wall of his ancestral house had been destroyed.
Kartarpur corridor
In May 2025, the Kartarpur Corridor in Narowal was closed indefinitely as tensions between Pakistan and India escalated. The management of the corridor announced the suspension of Sikh pilgrims’ entry, citing security concerns, while the Zero Line Gate on the Indian side was also shut, preventing yatrees from travelling to the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.
The closure had begun on May 8, 2025, when the Indian government temporarily suspended the corridor, later extending it indefinitely without providing a timeline for reopening. The decision dealt a major blow to Sikh devotees who had relied on the corridor to visit the gurdwara, where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, had spent the last years of his life.
Nearly 3,000 Sikh pilgrims arrive in Pakistan from India for Baisakhi
Since its inauguration in 2019, the Kartarpur Corridor had served as a landmark initiative, allowing visa-free access for Indian pilgrims to the sacred site and symbolizing rare goodwill between the two neighbors. Its closure in May marked a serious setback to religious harmony and cross-border cooperation, leaving thousands of Sikh pilgrims disappointed and uncertain about the future of this unique passage that once bridged political divides in the name of faith.
Punjab on alert as Ravi flood looms
Heavy monsoon rains triggered severe flooding in Punjab’s major rivers, with the PDMA warning of critical situations in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej. The Chenab River at Head Marala saw inflows of 769,000 cusecs, while at Khanki and Qadirabad, embankments came under pressure. The Ravi River swelled dangerously, with 190,000 cusecs at Jassar and 72,000 cusecs at Shahdara, where officials expected a massive wave by night, potentially the largest flood in nearly four decades. Districts including Sialkot and Narowal faced serious challenges as rescue teams, Rangers, and police were deployed to ensure safety and assist residents.