Advisory: Sutlej level rises after India releases water

Several villages near Kasur are being evacuated

LAHORE/ KASUR:

Water level in River Sutlej has started rising after India released water in the river, a spokesman of the Irrigation Department said on Wednesday.

He said two days ago, India had released 56,000 cusecs from Harike Head which had caused water level to rise near Kasur.

On Wednesday, water level at Head Ganda Singh Wala was recorded at 35,000 cusecs. The spokesman said outflow from the Ganda Singh Wala Headworks would reach 50,000 cusecs at 12pm on Thursday (today).  He said Nagar, Gatti Kalanjar, Maboke, Bhaiki Wand, Chanda Singh and several other villages could be flooded as a result. He said the district government had asked residents of some villages along the river to evacuate as soon as possible.

Kasur DCO Adnan Arshad Olakh said 14 relief camps had been set up in the district after the flood forecast was issued.  Heavy rainfall occurring over upper catchments of Rivers Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej and Beas might cause high flood in some tributaries of River Chenab and River Ravi, a spokesman of the Flood Forecasting Division said.

He said river flow may increase in Rivers Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej and Beas.

He said a low-level flood was expected in River Sutlej at GS Wala where water was expected to increase from 45,000 cusecs to 55,000 Cusecs.

Cabinet committee visits DG Khan

Members of the cabinet committee on floods, led by Home Minister Shuja Khanzada, visited a relief camp set up at Kot Mithan in Dera Ghazi Khan on Wednesday.  The minister spoke to families housed at the camp and inquired about their problems. He told them that the government would continue to provide them relief after water receded from their villages.  The minister expected satisfaction at the arrangements at the relief camp and directed its administration to ensure that the camp was sprayed with mosquito-repellents daily. He said residents of the camp should be provided mosquito nets.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2015.