Low flood at Kotri as Indus ebbs at Guddu

The Indus River continued to experience a low-level flood at Kotri Barrage, while inflows declined at Guddu and Sukkur barrages amid return of normalcy in the rivers in Punjab, flood data provided by the irrigation and disaster management officials on Wednesday.

According to Flood Forecasting Division, inflows at Kotri were increasing slightly but despite this limited rise, no increase was made in downstream discharges over the past 24 hours. Also there was a sharp decline at Guddu Barrage, resulting in reduced inflows at Sukkur Barrage.

From 6pm Tuesday to 6pm Wednesday, inflows at Kotri Barrage rose by only 3,535 cusecs. According to the Irrigation Department, inflows at Kotri Barrage stood at 304,388 cusecs, against outflows of 289,098 cusecs.

At Sukkur Barrage upstream inflows reached 569,890 cusecs, with outflows at 518,120 cusecs – a decrease of 1,910 cusecs in the past 24 hours, with no change in outflows. Inflows at Guddu Barrage, were 551,851 cusecs and outflows 523,842 cusecs – decline of 53,607 cusecs.

In Punjab, a spokesperson for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said that all the rivers were flowing at normal levels. "Flows in the Indus, Jhelum, and Ravi rivers are normal," the spokesperson said.

"The Chenab is also flowing at normal levels at Marala, Khanki, Qadirabad, and Trimmu. The Sutlej River has a medium-level flood at Ganda Singh Wala, while Suleimanki and Islam headworks are experiencing low-level floods. In DG Khan, hill torrents are flowing normally."

At Panjnad, according to the PDMA spokesperson, a low-level flood is persisting, with flows decreasing to 194,000 cusecs. The spokesperson added that the district administrations remained on alert in case of any eventuality.

In Islamabad, Federal Minister Moeen Wattoo confirmed that Panjnad was facing a low-level flood but stressed that water levels were falling. "High-level floods persist at Guddu and Sukkur barrages, but Kotri remains at a low flood level with stable flows," he said.

He stated that Tarbela Dam has been filled to 100% capacity since 27 August, while Mangla Dam is at 96% with four feet of storage remaining. "The government's focus is on assessing damages and providing relief to affected population, with accelerated relief efforts."

Meanwhile, the Punjab PDMA forecast rainfall in most districts over the next 24 hours, with the 11th spell of monsoon rains continuing until September 19. it warned of increased water flows in nullahs and streams of Rawalpindi, Murree, and Galiyat on September18-19.

According to the PDMA, rainfall was expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Lahore, Gujrat, and Sialkot, as well as Narowal, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Okara, Sahiwal, Kasur, Jhang, Sargodha, and Mianwali.