Pakistan

PDMA warns of more flooding in Sutlej after India’ release water

Published by

Digital Desk

9 months ago

LAHORE: The death toll from recent floods in Punjab has risen to 35, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab said, as the “exceptionally high floods” persist in the Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej Rivers.

In a recent alert, the PDMA issued an exceptionally high-flood warning for the River Sutlej after India released water from the Harike and Ferozepur Headworks.

Earlier today, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad formally informed Pakistan about the high-level flood in the Sutlej River at Harike and Ferozepur, which, the PDMA said, will affect the water level in nine downstream districts.

The disaster authority has warned that districts likely to be impacted by Sultej overflow include Kasur, Okara, Pakpattan, and Bahawalnagar, Vehari, Lodhran, Bahawalpur, Multan, and Muzaffargarh.

Deputy Commissioners of the concerned districts have been directed to take immediate precautionary and relief measures to minimise potential damage, a PDMA spokesperson said on Sunday..

Furthermore, the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) of the Met Office reported that Ganda Singh Wala on the Sutlej continues to witness an exceptionally high flood with 253,068 cusecs flowing.

As of 9 am, the FFD reported a “very high” flood level at Balloki on the Ravi (162,290 cusec) and 550,000 cusecs and rising at Trimmu on Chenab, categorising it as very high.

Sulemanki on the Sutlej River and Sidhnai on the Ravi were in high floods, while Khanki and Qadirabad on the Chenab and Shahdara on the Ravi recorded a medium.

Furthermore, the PMD’s FFD said that the River Chenab at Panjnad is expected to attain “very high” to “exceptionally high flood” during September 4 and 5. “River Indus at Guddu is expected to attain a very high flood during September 6 to 7.”

The Flood Forecasting Division further predicted that very high flows in the associated nullahs of Rivers Ravi and Chenab during September 2 to 4, and then continue downstream onwards.

The Met Office also forecasted that “urban flooding” would occur in Lahore, Gujranwala, and Gujrat Divisions during the next 72 hours.

It further added that scattered thunderstorm rain with heavy to very heavy rainfall is also expected in the upper catchments of the Jhelum River and the Gujrat division during the period.

More to Follow

Digital Desk