The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has alerted of an impending perilous surge in the water level of the River Sutlej if India decides to release more water due to an anticipated surge in monsoon rains. This announcement was made on Saturday, raising concerns for the safety of numerous districts including Kasur, Okara, Pakpattan, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Lodhran, Multan, and Bahawalpur, which may bear the brunt of the escalating water inflow.
A spokesperson from PDMA has emphasized that the villages adjacent to the River Sutlej might need to be evacuated at a moment’s notice. All pertinent authorities are on high alert, with Punjab’s Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed voicing worries about the state of Indian dams exacerbating the situation.
The PDMA has indicated that the influx of water at Islam Headworks has surged to a staggering 151,000 cusecs. Furthermore, Ganda Singh Wala has experienced a high-level flood, with water flow reaching 122,000 cusecs. Sulemanki is currently grappling with a medium-level flood. Continuous and vigilant monitoring is being conducted from the PDMA control room encompassing all rivers, dams, barrages, and streams.
The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has corroborated the dire situation, confirming that River Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala Headworks and Islam Headworks is in the throes of a high flood level. Sulemanki Headworks, in comparison, is contending with a medium flood level. On a comparatively less alarming note, the River Indus stands at a low flood level at Kalabagh, Chashma, and Guddu headworks.
The FFD’s forecast has foretold scattered wind thunderstorms and moderate-intensity rain, with isolated instances of heavy downpours expected over the upper catchments of major rivers within the next 24 hours.
Amidst this crisis, Punjab’s Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi personally visited the relief camp at River Sutlej in Attari Village, Okara. Naqvi has provided statistics indicating that the floods have ravaged 107 villages in the Sahiwal Division, compelling the evacuation of approximately 82,000 individuals. A significant number of these evacuees, around 16,000, are sheltered at the Attari camp alone. Notably, over 36,000 animals have been rescued from the peril, thanks to the efforts of 40 active boats and the establishment of 11 relief camps in the Sahiwal region.
This emergent situation necessitates unswerving vigilance and collaborative efforts from both government bodies and citizens to mitigate the potential impact of the impending water surge.
