Pakistan is bracing for potential flooding as India released a significant volume of floodwater into the Ravi River. This release comes in the wake of heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Chenab and Ravi rivers. As a result, the water level in the Chenab River has already reached a medium flood stage at Khanki and Qadirabad headworks. Moreover, India has also released water into the Ujh and Tawi rivers, which are tributaries of the Ravi and Chenab rivers, adding to the concerns.
The situation is critical, and there is a growing risk of high flood levels in both the Chenab and Ravi rivers. This impending flooding has the potential to impact several districts in Punjab, including Narowal, Lahore, Shekhupura, Nankana Sahib, Okara, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, and Jhang. To prepare for any emergency scenarios, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has directed the administrations of the districts along the course of the Ravi and Chenab rivers to make advance arrangements. The authorities are working tirelessly to tackle the situation and minimize the impact on communities living along the riverbanks. In the meantime, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has already reported medium flood levels in River Chenab at Qadirabad, Jhelum at Mangla, and Ravi at Jassar, further emphasizing the urgency for preparedness and response measures.
