Unprecedented flooding in the Ravi River has submerged parts of the historic Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. See the impact as Punjab braces for more high-level floods.
Kartarpur Sahib Submerged as Ravi River Floods Punjab - Video
Kartarpur, Punjab - The historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, a site of immense religious and emotional significance to the global Sikh community, has been severely impacted by unprecedented flooding. After massive water flows in the Ravi River, the entire complex has been inundated, with visuals showing the revered shrine partially submerged. This deeply concerning development has prompted widespread distress as authorities in the Punjab province issue high to very high flood alerts for several major rivers, bracing for a large-scale emergency.
The primary cause of the devastating flood at Kartarpur Sahib has been attributed to the dramatic swelling of the Ravi River. According to initial reports, this situation was triggered by the release of a large volume of water from India. The Ravi is a transboundary river that flows from India into Pakistan, and this significant release upstream sent a massive surge of water downstream directly into Pakistan's Punjab province. This act overwhelmed the river's natural and man-made defenses, putting immense pressure on embankments and causing the river to break its banks, leading to the widespread inundation of the historic shrine and adjacent agricultural lands.
BREAKING: Historic Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib is submerged after India reportedly opened floodgates on the Ravi River.
— Curious Pakistan (@Curious_Pak) August 27, 2025
PDMA has issued a high flood alert across Punjab. #KartarpurSahib #PunjabFloods #kartarpur
Full details: https://t.co/0kZeFVX7Kb pic.twitter.com/4ONjetUN1o
According to initial, unverified reports and trending videos circulating widely on social media, the floodwaters have breached the complex and entered the main sanctum of the Darbar Sahib. The water is reportedly high enough to have submerged nearly four steps of the central staircase, a sight that has shocked devotees. Furthermore, the samadh located on the ground floor and the mazar situated just outside the main shrine have also been reported as being completely submerged. The entire courtyard, pathways, and surrounding complex are heavily waterlogged, transforming the sacred grounds into a vast, murky expanse of floodwater. This is a situation that has not been witnessed in the shrine's recent, restored history.
According to the BBC: Inside the flooded Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib complex, a desperate situation is unfolding as approximately 100 individuals, among them 18 local Sikh pilgrims and numerous staff members, are marooned by the rising waters. A Deputy Secretary overseeing the project has confirmed their predicament, assuring that while the group is currently safe, they are completely cut off and in urgent need of rescue. He also validated the authenticity of viral social media photos, confirming they were taken by his staff and show devastating floodwater, not just heavy rain. As ground-based rescue teams have been unable to access the shrine, authorities are now escalating efforts to deploy a helicopter for an emergency airlift operation.
The cataclysmic flooding at the holy site has been directly linked to a critical failure in local infrastructure, with Kartarpur officials confirming a major breach in a protective embankment on the Ravi River. A significant rupture in the Jassar bund unleashed an immense torrent of water, estimated to be nine to ten feet deep, that rapidly consumed the Gurdwara and the surrounding landscape. This embankment collapse has created a logistical nightmare for rescuers, as the primary roads linking the shrine to the Narowal district have been rendered impassable, severely hindering efforts to reach the stranded pilgrims and staff.
Responding to the broader regional emergency, Pakistan's armed forces have initiated a large-scale rescue mission in the affected border territories alongside local emergency crews. To date, their combined efforts have successfully saved over 409 people and their livestock from perilous situations across at least 21 flood-ravaged sites. Despite these successes, the operation is fraught with difficulties; treacherous, fast-moving currents and submerged roadways are creating significant obstacles. The crisis is acute in villages such as Jhan Man Singh, where entire populations are now trapped in their homes, effectively turning their communities into islands surrounded by the encroaching flood.
The destructive force of the flood has paralyzed the region's essential infrastructure, extending the crisis far beyond the immediate vicinity of the Gurdwara. A vital transportation artery, the national highway connecting Shakargarh with the Narowal district, has been completely submerged, severing a crucial link for commerce and rescue. Reports from the ground describe immense hardship for local communities battling the swift currents of the Ravi River and its tributaries. While the Deputy Commissioner of Narowal has confirmed the evacuation of more than 250 individuals, a sense of high alert remains as the massive body of water continues its relentless and rapid advance toward Narowal city.
Massive River Flows Trigger Widespread Emergency
The primary cause of the flooding is the extremely high water levels in the River Ravi, which flows adjacent to the Gurdwara complex in the Narowal district of Punjab. The situation has reportedly been exacerbated by large water releases upstream. While official verification is pending, reports suggest that these releases originated from India into the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers. This sudden and massive influx of water has put immense pressure on river embankments along the entire border region and has triggered a widespread flood emergency across the agriculturally vital Punjab province.
High Flood Alert Issued Across Punjab by PDMA
In response to the escalating crisis, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab has issued an urgent and critical flood alert. The authority has warned of "high to very high floods" in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers, with the peak flows expected within the next 48 hours. This has put local administrations in multiple districts on the highest level of alert, with emergency response plans being rapidly activated to mitigate the potential for disaster.
The PDMA has specifically warned that several major divisions, home to millions of people, are at high risk of experiencing significant urban flooding. These include Lahore, Gujranwala, Jhang, Gujrat, Kasur, and Sialkot. Residents in low-lying areas, particularly those living in communities adjacent to the riverbanks, have been strongly advised by authorities to prepare for potential, and in some cases, immediate evacuations. They are urged to follow all official instructions from their local district administrations to ensure their safety.
A Site of Deep Religious and Historical Importance
The inundation of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib is particularly distressing for millions around the world due to its sacred status in Sikhism. The Gurdwara is built on the very site where Guru Nanak, the revered founder of the Sikh faith, settled and spent the last 18 years of his life, establishing a commune and promoting his teachings of equality, service, and devotion. It is revered as one of the holiest sites in the Sikh religion, second only to Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Guru Nanak's birthplace.
The Kartarpur Corridor, a landmark project inaugurated in November 2019, connects the shrine directly to the town of Dera Baba Nanak in India's Punjab, allowing Indian pilgrims visa-free access. This "Corridor of Peace" has been celebrated as a symbol of hope, faith, and cross-border connection. While the corridor's operations have been temporarily suspended in the past due to regional tensions or minor flooding near the border crossing point, the current situation, with floodwaters physically entering the main shrine complex, is unprecedented in modern times. The sight of the submerged complex has caused significant anguish and concern among the Sikh community worldwide, who are anxiously monitoring the situation.
Emergency Response and the Broader Human Impact
Across Punjab, local administrations have been instructed to prepare for a large-scale emergency response. This monumental task includes the establishment of temporary relief camps on higher ground, ensuring the ready availability of rescue teams (including boats and personnel), and preparing for the potential displacement of tens of thousands of people. The primary focus of the government's entire apparatus is currently on the preservation of human life and the safe relocation of residents from the most vulnerable areas.
The floods have already had a devastating impact on the agricultural backbone of the region. Early reports indicate widespread damage to standing crops, particularly rice and sugarcane, which could have severe economic consequences for local farmers and the national food supply. The structural integrity of protective embankments and bunds remains a critical concern for engineers and officials, as any significant breach could lead to catastrophic, flash flooding in densely populated towns and villages.
As this natural disaster continues to develop, the immediate priority for authorities is managing the flood crisis and mitigating its human and economic impact. For the global Sikh community and for heritage conservationists, the focus will also inevitably turn to the long-term impact of this severe flood on the historic structure of Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. A thorough assessment and significant restoration efforts will likely be required once the floodwaters finally recede.