India releases 185,000 cusecs of water into river Ravi, warns NDMA

Lahore: India released a substantial amount of water into the River Ravi, with a flow rate of 185,000 cusecs, as announced by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday.

The NDMA issued a warning that the region would soon experience the impact of the impending flood within the next 20 to 24 hours.

 In light of this, the NDMA has urged the concerned departments and local administration in the vulnerable area to enhance their preparedness measures.

Under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, India is responsible for the provision of water from the Indus River, as well as its tributaries including the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers. Last year, India released 173 cusecs of water into the River Ravi.

Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner of Gujrat has highlighted that the high flood in Gujrat has the potential to impact 59 villages. This occurrence is a seasonal phenomenon following heavy monsoon rainfall in the river's catchment area.

The Marala area has observed a flow rate of 122,000 cusecs in the Chenab River, indicating a low-level flood. It is anticipated that the flow rate may reach 170,000 cusecs within the next 24 hours. Similarly, near Nowshera, the water flow stands at 63,000 cusecs.

The NDMA recently reported a total of 76 fatalities across Pakistan since the onset of the monsoon season on June 25. Over the past 24 hours, nine additional deaths and eight injuries were recorded. Among the reported deaths, five were in Punjab, raising the province's death toll to 48, the highest in the country. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa follows with 20 fatalities, while Balochistan and Azad Kashmir reported five and three deaths, respectively.

The NDMA also disclosed that out of the 76 deceased individuals, 30 were men, 15 were women, and 31 were children. Additionally, 78 houses have been damaged due to the adverse weather conditions. The number of injuries currently stands at 133, with 48 men, 38 women, and 48 children affected.

In the last 24 hours, Nagarparkar in Sindh recorded the highest rainfall at 111 mm. Narowal in Punjab received the heaviest rainfall within the province, measuring 36 mm, while Kakul in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa experienced 21 mm of rainfall.

Most parts of the country are expected to have mainly dry weather in the next 24 hours. However, rain and thundershowers are forecasted in Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab, and southeast Sindh.