The increasing frequency and intensity of monsoon rains across Pakistan have led to significant rises in water levels at major reservoirs such as Tarbela and Mangla dams. The recent surge in rainfall has resulted in medium-flood conditions at Guddu and Sukkur barrages, with the Chenab river expected to reach high flood levels at Marala.
The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) reports that the water level at Tarbela dam increased from 1,504.31 feet on July 16 to 1,537 feet on July 31, a rise of 32.69 feet. The reservoir is now just 13 feet below its maximum conservation level of 1,550 feet.
Similarly, the water level at Chashma Lake rose to 648.50 feet from 646.80 feet on July 16. At Mangla dam, the water level increased from 1,173.20 to 1,195.55 feet over the same period, with its maximum conservation level standing at 1,242 feet.
The heavy rainfall in the catchment areas has been attributed mainly to snowmelt and monsoon rains, although some inflows are also expected due to recent snowfall. The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) of the Met Office forecasts that the River Indus will remain at a medium flood level at Sukkur, while flows at Guddu barrages may recede from medium to low flood levels over the next 24 hours.
The Jhelum, Ravi and Sutlej rivers are currently flowing below low flood levels. The FFD also warns of urban flooding in areas such as Dera Ghazi Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northern Balochistan, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Gujrat, Narowal, Lahore, Okara, Sahiwal and Faisalabad.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has issued a fact sheet on the monsoon and flood situation in the province. The report highlights rainfall of 75mm in Attock, 67mm in Sialkot, 56mm in Joharabad, 46mm in Lahore, 44mm in Sargodha, 27mm in Khushab, 21mm in Murree, and 17mm each in Narowal.
The PDMA Director General Saif Anwar Jappa has stated that there is a low flood situation at Kalabagh and Chashma on the River Indus. Water storage stands at 85pc in Tarbela dam, 54pc in Mangla dam, 46pc in Thein dam, 40pc in Pong dam, and 37pc in Bhakra dam.
The PDMA has reported that 45 people have died and 279 injured due to rain-related incidents across Punjab during the current monsoon season. Of these fatalities, 33 were caused by mudslides or dilapidated buildings, six by drowning, four by electrocution, and two by lightning strikes.
To mitigate the risks associated with flooding, authorities are urging citizens to take precautionary measures such as not allowing children to bathe in rain drains, low-lying areas, rivers, or canals. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority is also monitoring the situation round-the-clock to ensure a timely response to any emergency.
Based on reporting from Dawn.
