Flood Alert: India releases high volume of water in Chenab River

LAHORE: A concerning situation has unfloaded along the Chenab River due to India’s abrupt release of a high volume of water after halting the water flow for nearly a day.

The sudden surge in the water flow levels has alerted the authorities to threats of potential floods in areas near to Chenab River. Pakistan‘s irrigation officials said the flow of water at Head Marala jumped to 28,000 cusecs when only hours earlier the river was nearly dry.

The officials stated that the unanticipated release of water caused a sudden raise in water levels that then warranted local authorities to take action and notify flood alerts in local communities of Sialkot, Gujrat, and Head Qadirabad.

Earlier reports had indicated that the flow of water at Head Marala was at a very low 5,300 cusecs as India purposely blocked that stream at the Baglihar Dam.

The sudden swings in water volume created serious concerns for India‘s water practices, with experts indicating risks for flash–flooding and violations of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Authorities in the occupied territories of Jammu and Kashmir issued alerts for the communities of Akhnoor and ordered evacuations of concerned residents along riverbanks, fearing surges in flows.

The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) has established real-time monitoring of inflows and outflows of the Chenab so it can properly monitor what is taking place around water flows of the river.

Officials have said inflows of water at the river may continue to remain altered for a while, given India‘s erratic and politically motivated water withdrawals. District Administrations have encouraged residents alongside the riverbanks to remain vigilant.