Sutlej in ‘very high flood’

PDMA says deluge of 250,000 cusecs of water flowing at its Ganda Singh Wala point

LAHORE:

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab on Friday said the Ganda Singh Wala point of Sutlej River was in a state of a very high flood with a deluge of 250,000 cusecs of water flowing there.

According to a PDMA spokesperson, the water level there was constantly rising and the residents of the adjoining villages had been completely or partially evacuated.

The spokesperson said efforts were under way to move the cattle of the residents to safe places.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also issued an advisory to alert the national and provincial departments concerned to ensure proper measures to cope with any untoward situation as Sutlej River had attained high level flows at its Ganda Singh Wala point.

The NDMA advisory underlined that as per the water flows data received from the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD), Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), and Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters (PCIW), the high level of flows in the river would persist for the next 24 to 48 hours.

It added that the flows would be reflected and passed on downstream to Sulemanki and Islam Headworks in the next 48 to 76 hours.

In light of the high flows as well as probable dangers faced by the areas along Sutlej River, the NDMA advised the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) to ensure the implementation of an elaborate coordination mechanism for preparedness and mitigation through management of water reservoirs, barrages, headworks, and irrigation canals.

"The measures must ensure desynchronised releases from all reservoirs and regulating structures to preclude cumulative flooding in any regions,” the advisory read.

Separately, in a positive development, Mangla Dam on Friday reached its peak after it was fully filled to the stipulated maximum level of 1,242 feet.

According to the media wing of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), 7.356 million acre feet (MAF) of water is available in Mangla reservoir at present.

The other two major reservoirs – Tarbela and Chashma – have also filled to their maximum levels.

Wapda officials said the maximum availability of water in the dams was being regarded as a good omen for farming and hydel power generation in Pakistan in the days to come.

As per details, the water storage at Tarbela Dam is 5.809 MAF and Chashma 0.278 MAF.

The cumulative quantum of water available at present in Mangla, Tarbela, and Chashma reservoirs stands at 13.443 MAF.

According to the statistics, the water level in Tarbela is 1,550 feet and Chashma 649 feet above mean sea level.