Water reserves dwindle as levels drop

ISLAMABAD:

Reservoir levels indicated moderate storage across major dams. At Tarbela, the minimum operating level is 1,402 feet, with the current water level recorded at 1,450.01 feet, against a maximum conservation level of 1,550 feet.

The usable water storage stood at 1.011 million acre-feet. At Mangla, the minimum operating level is 1,050 feet, while the current level was recorded at 1,137.05 feet, compared to a maximum capacity of 1,242 feet, with usable storage at 1.237 million acre-feet.

At Chashma, the minimum operating level is 638.15 feet, with the current level at 643.60 feet and a maximum of 649 feet, while usable storage stood at 0.102 million acre-feet.

Officials clarified that flow data at Tarbela and Chashma on the Indus River, at Nowshera on the Kabul River, and at Mangla on the Jhelum River represent average flows over the past 24 hours.

Water flows across major rivers, barrages and reservoirs showed a mixed but controlled pattern on Friday, with inflows and outflows recorded at key points including Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma, according to the latest official data.

The update provides a snapshot of the country's water situation, covering river flows, barrage discharges and reservoir levels. At Tarbela on the Indus River, inflow was recorded at 16,400 cusecs while outflow stood higher at 20,000 cusecs.

On the Kabul River at Nowshera, both inflow and outflow were measured at 10,600 cusecs.