LAHORE:
The waters of the floods in Punjab reached alarming levels on Tuesday after India released additional discharges in the Sutlej and Ravi rivers, while the persistent monsoon rains intensified the crisis, putting millions of lives at risk and increasing a fear of a super flood in Sindh.
According to the flood forecast division (FFD), the Sutlej in Ganda Singh Wala registered more than 350,000 cusecs of water, the highest level since 1955.
In Sulemanki, the flow was measured in 124,000 CUSEC, while Islam Headworks reported almost 86,000 CUCSEC. The Ravi also witnessed a dangerous increase, with water levels registered in 54,000 CUSECs in Jassar, 60,000 in Shahdara, 137,000 in Balloki and 107,000 in Sidhnai.
The Chenab River wore more than 516,000 Cusecs in the head of Trimmu, which represents a growing threat to low areas. The water levels in the head, Sanguiney quickly rose, endangering Pir Mahal and Khanewal, while traffic was suspended in the head of Muhammad Wala amid warnings that the protective embankment could have to be violated deliberately to relieve the pressure.
The Provincial Authority of Disaster Management (PDMA) reported that the main dams approached the critical thresholds. Mangla Dam has reached 82 percent of its capacity, while Tarbela is already full to the edge. On the other side of the border, the Bhakra dam of India is 84 percent, Pong in 98 percent, and the 92 percent lain, which increases fears that any additional launch can dangerously increase the pressure downstream in Pakistan.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) confirmed that on September 1, a massive wave of 550,000 CUSECs went through Trimmu after the embankments were deliberately violated in two points to relieve an earlier increase of 885,000 CUCSE.
The flow is now directed towards Panjnad Headworks, which has a design capacity of 650,000 Cusec, and is expected to receive between 570,000 and 600,000 Cusec for September 3. By September 5, it is projected that between 80,000 and 100,000 additional cusecs of Sutlej will increase the total flow of between 650,000 and 700,000 CuCEC. The increase will then move to Guddu Barge before September 6, followed by the Barriers of Sukkur and Kotri, before draining to the Arabic sea around September 12 or 13.
The general director of the PDMA, Irfan Ali Kathia, said that until now more than one million people have been transferred to safe areas, while 41 people have lost their lives since August 26. He described relief and evacuation efforts in progress as the largest rescue operation in the history of the province.
The Punjab Help Commissioner Nabeel Javed said that more than 3,200 villages and more than 2.4 million people have been affected. He said that 395 help camps, 392 medical camps and 336 veterinary camps have been established in areas affected by floods, while almost one million people and more than 708,000 cattle have been relocated in safer places.
The Department of Meteorology of Pakistan warned of more rains in the next 24 to 48 hours, warning that the water pressure is likely to increase in the low Indo and southern Punjab. The authorities have expressed fears that the situation can become a super flood in Sindh, threatening millions more in the next few days.
In southern Punjab, Chenab’s increase has entered the Fullan district, where local authorities are weighing embankments to protect the city.
In Sindh, low -level floods have been reported in the barriers of Sukkur, Kotri and Guddu, although many residents in the “Katcha” river areas resist the evacuation orders. Officials warn that the refusal to abandon the areas could complicate help efforts if river levels continue to increase.
The FFD reported that the Tarbela dam has reached total capacity, while Mangla is full of 83 percent. Rawal Dam has opened his landfills as the levels approached the danger mark. The authorities said that more rain is expected until September 3, with forecasts that point to continuous continuous flows in the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers.
Meanwhile, the National Center for the Emergency Operation (NEOC) warned about possible urban floods in the cities of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and the risk of landslides in the mountainous areas due to the expected rainfall in the next 12 to 24 hours.
According to the weather notice issued by the NDMA NEOC, a strong generalized rain is expected in the next 12 to 24 hours in several parts of AJK, including Mirpur, Dadyal, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Kotli, Rawalakot, Muzampharabad, Sharda, Helveli and surrounding areas.
The NDMA has urged residents of the vulnerable regions to exercise extreme caution near the streams and flooded roads, avoid unnecessary trips, adhere to security protocols, follow official directives, avoid contact with electric lines and flooded areas during the severe rain.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the relevant authorities to accelerate relief and rehabilitation activities in the areas affected by the floods of Punjab and Sindh.
The prime minister issued the directives while presiding over a meeting in Beijing to review the situation of floods and help operations in Pakistan, temporarily stopping their other commitments.
During the meeting, the president of the NDMA, the main secretaries of Punjab, Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, together with officials of several relevant institutions, informed the prime minister about the current conditions of flooding and the progress of the aid operations.
The Prime Minister addressed the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Ministry of Energy to take immediate measures to restore the damaged electrical communication and transmission systems affected by floods.
He emphasized full cooperation between the federal government, the provincial governments and all the institutions concerned by providing relief to the affected families, relocating them in safe areas and rehabilitating the damaged infrastructure.
The prime minister instructed the authorities to focus particularly on the aid and recovery operations in the areas affected by the floods of Punjab and Sindh.
He addressed the president of the NDMA to maintain full coordination PDMA and provide all the necessary support for provincial governments.
The prime minister also ordered the rapid search and recovery of citizens who disappeared due to floods.
During the meeting, the prime minister was informed that the authorities continuously monitored high levels of flood in the Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej rivers. “The regulation of dams and barriers is in progress in response to the increase in water levels in these rivers.”
The specific locations that experience high levels of flood or at risk include Trimmu, Balloki, Sidhnai, GS Wala and Sulemanki along the Chenab, Ravi and Setlej rivers, the meeting was reported. “NDMA is working closely with provincial administrations and disaster management authorities in these sites.”
(With application entry)
