Warsak Dam spillway poses flood threat

Authorities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) have been alerted to take precautionary measures regarding flooding before opening the spillway of Warsak Dam to flush out surplus water and create space for fresh inflow.

In a letter to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the irrigation department of the province expressed alarms over the Wapda’s plans to lift the spillway gates, warning that the overflowing Kabul River might inundate the populated areas and cause damage to life and property.

“The spillways may pose risks to the Kabul River and the surrounding communities. Therefore, it is necessary to take steps to protect the lives and property of the residents of the local population,” the letter read.

It called for necessary measures to prevent migrations and pointed out that the locals and tourists near the river banks might end up stranded in the flood.

In order to avoid any untoward situation and loss of human lives, the adjacent populations on both sides of the Kabul River are warned that in the current situation, to ensure the safety of people's lives and property, tourists near the Kabul River should not bathe in the river, it added.

During this time, the letter suggested, the concerned authorities should perform their duties to take care of the public so that any untoward incident can be avoided during this time.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2022.