Flood alert issued after India releases water in Ravi River

The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Monday issued a ‘significant flood warning’ for the Ravi River after India released over 171,000 cusecs of water from its Ujh Barrage. Referring to the warning of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the PMDA in its alert stated that India released 171,797 cusecs from Ujh Barrage at 3:30 pm on Monday. Reportedly, the Indian authorities shared the information with the Indus Water Commission in Pakistan.

According to the PMD, after the release of water, the flows are likely to increase in Ravi River at JASSAR ranging between 70,000 to 100,000 cusecs (medium- to high-level flood) today (Tuesday).

The PMD has warned that the high flow in the Ravi River may generate riverine flooding in Gujranwala, Lahore, Sahiwal, Faisalabad and Multan Divisions. Due to heavy floods in rivers and ongoing heavy spell of monsoon could submerge hundreds of acres of land in Lahore, Shekhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Okara, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Khaniwal and Multan districts.

The PMD has also informed all the authorities concerned including the secretaries Irrigation Department, Food Department, Communication and Works Department, Agriculture Department, Local Government, Health Department, all the divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners regarding the alert.

They have been asked to immediately mobilize and advance placement of Flood Fighting and to place Rescue and Relief teams with all required machinery and equipment on the suitable sites. PMD has directed that residents of the most vulnerable areas should be shifted to temporary relief camps as and when required. In order to avoid epidemic diseases, the PMD asked to mobilize medical teams for the provision of first aid to the affectees.

On other hand, the PDMA also issued a warning of severe flash flooding for hill torrent areas of Dera Ghazi Khan after the PMD forecasted heavy rain from August 16 to 19. The PDMA, in its warning, stated that flows from hill torrents of DG Khan may cause medium- to high-level flooding in the Indus River at Taunsa, Guddu and Sukkur.

Samiullah Randhawa is a correspondent covering environment, climate change, food, water and ecology. He is an International Center For Journalists alumnus and a fellow at Kettering Foundation Ohio, USA. He has won two Agahi Awards for reporting on climate change and water crisis. He tweets @sami_randhawa and can be reached at [email protected].