Riverine flooding alert as monsoon sets in

Spillways of Tarbela opened for six hours to ease pressure on dam

ISLAMABAD:

With the onset of monsoon season, the authorities were braced for river flooding in the country, as water level was already rising in the rivers across the country, water resources ministry sources said on Monday.

According to the sources, the country’s main water reservoir, Tarbela Dam, on the brink of reaching capacity, initiated the opening of its spillways for a six-hour duration on Monday to release excess water.

The Tarbela spillways were also opened for one hour on Sunday. The current water level in the reservoir has reached 1,512 feet, slightly below its maximum capacity of 1,550 feet due to ongoing construction activities.

According to a reliable source, the flow in the Indus River at Tarbela is currently measured at 201,000 cusecs. Considering this flow, it is projected that the water level could rise to 1,531 feet within the next ten days. The source stated that the spillways of Tarbela Dam will be opened once the water level reaches 1,531 feet.

Read: Heavy pre-monsoon showers lash Lahore

Besides, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a statement on Sunday, predicting the onset of monsoon showers starting from Monday. The PMD also highlighted the potential for a cloudburst in the catchment area of the Swat River.Due to the anticipated monsoon rains, there is a heightened risk of flooding in the Swat and Kabul rivers. This increased water flow, combined with that of the Sindh River, has the potential to cause floods.

Consequently, there may be added pressure on barrages located in lower riparian areas.

Moreover, the northern regions of the country, including Skardu, experienced temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius. This heatwave has accelerated the melting of glaciers, resulting in an inflow of 396,000 cusecs into the rivers, the source said.

The PMD has further forecast heavy thunderstorms and rainfall in the capital city, Islamabad, as well as in Lahore and Peshawar, starting from Monday evening and extending until Saturday. The department has warned about the possibility of flooding in low-lying areas as a consequence of these weather conditions.
 

(WITH INPUT FROM AGENCIES)