India’s release of water adds to flooding misery

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  • Sutlej, Chenab, Indus in high flood, torrents enter Kamoke,
  • Six more killed in rain and flood-related incidents
  • Punjab sends 23 trucks of relief for KP flood-affected people

 

 

India released more water into Pakistani rivers on Monday as floods continued to play havoc in various areas of the country, affecting hundreds of thousands of people.

At least six people, including three children, were killed in electrocution and other rain-related incidents in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Jahanian.

Four of the deaths came in Gujranwala when roof collapse incident killed a man and his three daughters.

According to rescue sources, the roof of a fragile structure collapsed due to heavy rain in Kashmir Colony of Gujranwala, killing a man and his three daughters.

PDMA Punjab Director General Captain (r) Muhammad Asif said Narowal, Sialkot, Gujranwala and Gujrat districts were severely affected by floods in Punjab.

Captain (r) Asif said some areas of Narowal and Sheikhupura were worst hit and water had inundated all roads leading to the areas.

The floodwater has also inundated Billal Wala‚ Fatohi Wala‚ Basti Kilanjar and Chanda Singh Wala villages of Kasur district. The local administration has evacuated 20 villages as precautionary measure.

India released 170,000 cusecs of water early on Monday, forcing issuance of  high flood warning for SutlejRiver near Kasur.

Around 84,000 cusecs water, released from Ferozpur Head Works of India, has entered Pakistani limits and will pass through Ganda Singhwala near Kasur.

Meanwhile, 170,000 cusecs of floodwater in RaviRiver has wreaked havoc in Sahiwal, destroying mud houses and standing crops spread across thousands of acres.

The floodwater from Nullah Dek entered Kamoke after playing havoc in Narowal‚ Pasrur and Gujranwala‚ inundating 100 villages.

The water level in River Chenab at Jhang is rising‚ and has so far affected 300 villages and damaged crops and houses.

A huge torrent of floodwater is passing through southern Punjab‚ where several towns and villages have been submerged.

Raging waters in IndusRiver inundated vast riverine areas in Dadu and Jamshoro districts.

A large number of people have been shifted to safer places from the area.

A massive torrent of 500,000 cusecs in Indus is passing through Rajanpur‚ Kot Mithan‚ Rojhan‚ Chacharan and Zahir Peer areas after passing through Ghazi Ghat and Jam Pur areas.

According to the district administration of Rajanpur and Muzaffargarh‚ all the safety embankments are safe and no breach has occurred in Mashwari dyke near Kot Mithan.

Rajanpur assistant commissioner said there was no immediate threat to Kot Mithan city.

He said water was gradually increasing in the area due to the arrival of Chenab water in River Indus through Punjnad Headworks.

He said the rescue teams of different departments were busy in shifting the people at safer places from both sides of the river, adding that 27 villages of Rajanpur had been hit by flood.

Water level in ChenabRiver continued to rise near Multan and Muzaffargarh districts and the villages of Pond areas and the river belt were inundated.

According to the Muzaffargarh DCO‚ the flashflood in Chenab was expected to pass through the area on Wednesday.

According to Flood Forecasting Division Lahore‚ Indus at Taunsa and Guddu‚ Ravi at Shahdara and Balloki were in medium flood.

Indus at Chashma and Sukkur‚ Kabul River at Nowshera‚ Chenab at Khanki and Qadirabad and Sutlej at Sulemanki were in low flood.

Ravi at Shahdara was likely to fall into a low flood level during the next 15-hours.

However‚ the Flood Forecasting Division issued an alert for Sutlej, which was likely to attain medium flood at Ganda Singh Wala during the next 15 hours.

The Punjab government sent 23 truck loads of relief items for flood affected people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Speaking on the occasion‚ Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif assured every possible help for the flood affected people.

He directed the law enforcement agencies to ensure law and order in the flood-hit areas.

In Tarbela Dam, the water level is persistently rising and is only nine inches short of maximum capacity and is expected to reach the limit by Tuesday.

The Flood Forecasting Division said the water level in the dam had reached 1,549.25 feet against its maximum capacity of 1550 feet.

The water inflow into Tarbela Dam was recorded at 187,200 cusecs, while discharge stands at 179,544 cusecs. The usable water reserve in the dam is 6,538,000 acre-feet, the Flood Forecasting Division said.

On the other hand, Mangla Dam’s water level has surged up to 1,225.60 feet. Water inflow was recorded at 50,185 cusecs and discharge at 15,000 cusecs.

According to an official of the Meteorological Department, any further strong monsoon system could generate massive river and urban flooding because almost all dams in Pakistan and India had been filled to capacity.

The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) said fairly widespread thunderstorm and rain with isolated heavy falls was expected over upper catchments of Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers during the next 24 hours.

Scattered thundershower may also occur over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Lahore and Gujranwala divisions) and upper catchment of IndusRiver, besides, isolated thundershower over DG Khan division during the same period.

 

 

17 COMMENTS

    • Suma ameen.
      GOD has given us brains too. We should use it and build small dams on these rivers to store as much water as possible.
      We should also not let people build houses in flooding areas of a given river.

  1. When heavy rains in India cause floods in rivers, water must be released into Pakistan sides of rivers. It is the law of nature. There is nothing anybody can do especially Pakistan. Yes Pakistan could have stored the flood water if dams were built. But no, Pakistan would rather build bombs.

  2. Not India's fault. When full, dams/ reserviors need to be emptied. Even several Indian villages are under flood water. So not fair to blame India.
    On the other hand, after having a plan to give thousand cuts to India to bleed it to death, why you mean-spirited Pakistanis should even think that India would let its dams burst to save Pakistan !!!!! You go out of your way to hurt India and here is something coming everyone's way from mother nature and you want India to take the hit to save you ??????

      • Now you are wiser.. why the hell you pakistanis started giving cuts to India. By the way you have still not fully recovered from stupidity. That's why you have used the word "alleged". The whole world knows you guys are real shelterers and promoters of terrorists, who you think are your "assets". Osama Bin Laden afterall was found and killed in your country. What face do you have? You just hide behind the most ridiculous conspiracy theories…….Sudhar jao …

  3. Pakistan should play smart regarding flood situation which happens every few yrs.
    Pakistan should build small dams over theses rivers especially River Sutlej. This way it can store this water as much as possible.
    Pakistan should play it wise and should not blame India for this flooding. India has the right to do what is in their best interest.
    To make it clear, I am from Pakistan and I am thinking this way , how I can use this flood situation to my advantage. I am trying to think rationally and not emotionally.

  4. most comments I read here are politically motivated with addressing the basic issue. The environment is changing due to increasing population, reduction of forest cover, industrialization, etc. While steps need to be taken to control the above factors as long term measure, there also an urgent need to improve management of water resources on both sides of the border. Indus water treaty probably was the best thing that both countries worked out in the 60s that has worked until this day. Similar agreements benefiting people on both sides need to be worked out to save people from drought and floods. Floods of late have intensified the world over. New strategies are required to tackle this menace. Instead of blaming one another let experts from each side sit and workout solutions that benefit people on both side of the border.

    Unfortunately, land grabbing is also a compelling issue. Rivers usually have dry river beds to take care of flash floods such as the current ones. These floods occur due to excessive rains during monsoon season. These usually dry river beds help in evacuation of water by providing extra area for flowing water. Bursting population puts pressure on these dry beds called ‘pushtas’ where people build houses that get inundated.

  5. solution for saving thousands of Pakistani and people near border areas is, re adjusting border. Pakistan should take the land back from India along the rivers and manage is accordingly.

  6. Thanks a lot for spreading awareness about the flood through this post. I agree, we should build dams so this doesn't happen again. We should protect our people from the harm that floods cause.

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