Flood alerts in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after India releases water

LAHORE, Aug 20, 2019, Pakistan Today. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday issued flood alerts after India released water into River Sutlej and Alchi dam, reported the Pakistan Today.

PDMA Punjab on Monday issued a flood alert due to rising water levels in River Sutlej after India released water into the river. Additionally, the PDMA KP director general said that India had opened the outlets of Alchi dam “without preschedule” which, he said could lead to a flooding situation in River Indus.

According to the PDMA Punjab, flood water between the range of 125,000 and 175,000 cusecs reached Ganda Singh Wala. The disaster management authority said that the flood alert had been issued in order to avoid the loss of lives and properties.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (Met) has also issued a flood/weather advisory. According to the department, “very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall has been observed over the upper and lower catchments of Rivers Sutlej, Beas and Ravi during the last 72 hours”.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar summoned an emergency meeting to discuss the flood alert for River Sutlej. During the meeting, the situation was discussed in detail including a focus on steps taken for relief work and the security arrangements made.

According to the CM Office, various officials including the provincial disaster management minister, provincial irrigation minister, a senior member of the Federal Board of Revenue, the inspector general of police, administrative officers and officials from relief organisations participated in the meeting. Deputy commissioners and commissioners from various areas including Sahiwal, Multan and Bahawalpur also participated through a video link.

Meanwhile, the PDMA KP director general on Sunday wrote a letter to various provincial deputy commissioners with an alert regarding India opening the water outlet of Alchi dam.

As per the dispatch, the water would take 12 hours to reach Tarbela dam and around 15-18 hours to reach Dera Ismail Khan.

“The damming authorities at Tarbela have been instructed by [National Disaster Management Authority] NDMA to regulate the inflow and water discharge so as to overcome a flooding situation.”

He directed the deputy commissioner’s to restrict boating and swimming activities, adding that the catchment area near the Indus River should be monitored in order to deal with any untoward situation.

Relations between Pakistan and India have been strained since India stripped Kashmiris of the special autonomy they had for seven decades through a rushed presidential order on August 5. Following this, Pakistan resolved to downgrade diplomatic relations with New Delhi and suspended all bilateral trade.