India releases 200,000 cusecs of water into Ravi, floods in areas of Punjab

Due to India releasing 200,000 cusecs of water into the Ravi River and continuous rains, the flow of water in the major rivers of Punjab is continuously increasing. The water level in the Chenab, Sutlej and Ravi rivers has risen and reached the risky level.

The flow in the Chenab River is continuously increasing at Head Marala, where the water level has crossed the extremely dangerous level of 900,000 cusecs. At Khanki, the flow has also reached 657,511 cusecs, causing severe flood conditions.

According to the Irrigation Department, the water capacity of the Chenab River at Head Marala and Khanki is 1.1 million cusecs.

Commissioner Gujranwala Division Naveed Haider Shirazi said that the Chenab River will burst its banks when the water reaches 1.5 million cusecs. Targets have already been set to break the Chenab River. All arrangements are complete to deal with the possible situation. Relief camps are active and stocks of food and medicines are also available.

Flood Forecasting Division Lahore said that the Sutlej River is in very high flood condition at Ganda Singh Wala.

The water flow at Ganda Singh Wala was recorded at 245,236 cusecs, while the flow at the same place is likely to increase to 280,000 cusecs in the next 12 hours.

Meanwhile, there is also a very high level of flood at Jasar in the Ravi River, where the water flow has reached 226,240 cusecs, while there are medium-level floods at Shahdara in the Ravi and Sulemanki in the Sutlej. The flood relay in the Ravi River poses a risk of flooding in the low-lying areas of Shahdara and Motorway 2.

Due to the continuous increase in the inflow of water in the Ravi River, the government has directed to evacuate the river areas.

Water started spreading rapidly in the river belt areas including Tehsil Khairpur Tame Wali of Bahawalpur, damaging thousands of acres of crops, houses and government schools.