Jhelum back to normal after Mangla discharge
A view of the swelling Jhelum River in Muzaffarabad as India releases water without warning. Authorities remain confident that due to the ongoing dry spell and lack of rainfall, Pakistan can manage and store the surplus. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The water surge in the Jhelum River subsided on Sunday as it flowed into the Mangla Dam, a day after entering Chakothi in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) from the Line of Control (LoC), officials said.
The water level in the Jhelum River was recorded at 25,166 cusecs - about three feet above normal. On Saturday, the river level had risen by 7 to 8 feet after India released water into the river.
The Deputy Commissioner of Mirpur district, AJK, said the inflow of water into Mangla Dam was recorded at 47,100 cusecs, while the outflow stood at 32,000 cusecs. He added that there was still ample capacity to store more water in the dam.
"There is still a severe shortage of water in the dam. The current water level is 1,130 feet, whereas the maximum capacity is 1,242 feet. On this day last year, the water level was 1,144 feet," he noted.
On Saturday India, which had been blowing hot and cold following the Pahalgam false-flag operation, experienced a rude awakening from its lofty ambitions of blocking Pakistan's water, instead releasing a sudden surge into the Jhelum River in a fit of panic.
Nonetheless, the sudden release triggered a high-level flood, causing fear and havoc among local communities overnight.
The Muzaffarabad administration declared a water emergency as the rising waters caught residents off guard.
The Jhelum River snakes its way from Anantnag district in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) into Pakistan through Uri, Hattian Bala and Chakothi in AJK.
Authorities warned residents near the river to remain cautious and avoid venturing close to the banks. A ban was also imposed on swimming and transporting livestock near the Mangla Dam's banks.
State Disaster Management Authority official Saeed Qureshi said that the water level in the Jhelum River had declined. "The water is three feet above normal in the river. The level is also rising due to melting snow amid rising temperature," Qureshi added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
30-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Pre-monsoon drain desilting drive launched
Machinery is being used to speed up the process of desilting of canals in order to provide farmers timely supply of water for their crops. Photo: Express As part of pre-monsoon preparations, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has launched a major desilting operation of the 22-kilometer-long Nullah Leh and 13 major stormwater drains across Rawalpindi. Of total estimated cost of the project is Rs140 million, Rs80m will be spent on the complete desilting and realignment of Nullah Leh, while Rs60m is allocated for the storm drains. The Punjab government has approved the budget for this project. The desilting of Nullah Leh and the storm drains is scheduled for completion by June 30. The flood season for Nullah Leh is expected to run from July to September 15. Following Eidul Azha, a full-scale flood rescue drill will be conducted in low-lying areas like Javed Colony and Nadeem Colony. This exercise will include teams from the 111 Brigade, Rescue 1122, Civil Defence, and local police to simulate the evacuation of residents in case of flooding. The 111 Brigade will also be placed on red alert once the flood season begins. From June 15, a centralised Flood Control Room will be activated under the supervision of the Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner. This control room, located at the Civil Defence Headquarters, will have representatives from all 12 relevant departments. The Cantonment Boards of Rawalpindi and Chaklala will be responsible for cleaning the 11-kilometer stretch of Nullah Leh and associated storm drains that fall within their jurisdiction. A special survey by the Civil Defence Department has identified 20 high-risk locations along Nullah Leh and the storm drains. These include Javed Colony, Nadeem Colony, Arya Mohalla, Chah Sultan, New Katarian, Amar Pura Drain, Dhok Dalal Lai Bridge, Dhok Najoo, Mohalla Raja Sultan Drain, Hazara Colony, Ratta Amral, Mohanpura, Gawalmandi, Dhok Chiragh Din, Tench Bhatta Chowk, Dhok Khabba, Arya Mohalla (again), and Sadiqabad. The department has recommended enhanced monitoring and deeper desiltingby an additional two to three feetat these vulnerable points. According to the WASA spokesperson and Director of Administration, Umar Farooq, the cleanup is being treated as a top priority. Both heavy and light machinery is being used, and this year, even hard-to-reach areas in narrow, congested streets will be cleared. The desilting will improve water flow in both Nullah Leh and the storm drains. Moreover, the operation will continue beyond the initial cleanup until the end of the flood season.
Business Recorder
29-05-2025
- Business Recorder
Violent storms trigger floods, landslides killing 10
MUZAFFARABAD: At least 10 people were killed and 43 injured as strong winds and thunderstorms triggered flash floods and destroyed homes in central and northern parts of country, officials said Wednesday. Four women and a man died in AJK and three in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the State Disaster Management Authority said, while other officials said two died in Punjab. 'One person is still missing,' Haroon Rasheed, a senior government official in Pakistan administered Kashmir told AFP, adding that 12 houses and a mosque were destroyed in one village. Storms on Saturday killed at least 14 people and injured over 100 more across the country, which is grappling with increasingly frequent extreme weather events blamed on climate change. Stormy weather is expected to continue in northern and central parts of the country until Saturday, according to the National Disaster Management Authority. Soaring temperatures in April and May are becoming more common in Pakistan, which usually sees summer begin in early June. Temperatures reached near-record levels in April — as high as 46.5 Celsius (116 Fahrenheit) in parts of Punjab. Schools in Punjab and Balochistan provinces have closed early for summer vacations because of the heat.
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Express Tribune
WAPDA issuesinflow, outflow data for water reservoirs
A destitute couple braves the polluted waters of Nullah Leh in Rawalpindi, searching for discarded items to salvage in Dhok Ratta, Rawalpindi. PHOTO: AGHA MAHROZ/EXPRESS The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has issued inflow and outflow data of water in rivers and water reservoirs. According to statistics issued by Wapda, the water inflow at Tarbela Dam in Indus River was recorded at 1,76,600 cusec and outflow at 1,26,900 cusec, while the water inflow and outflow at Nowshera in Kabul River was registered at 43,000 cusec and 43,000 cusec. Likewise, water inflow and outflow at Khairabad Bridge stood at 1,36,900 cusec and 1,36,900 cusec; inflow and outflow at Mangla in Jhelum River, 43,300 cusec and 18,000 cusec; inflow and outflow at Marala in Chenab, 46,100 cusec and 20,400 cusec. The minimum operating level of Tarbela Dam was recorded at 1402 feet, current level of water in the reservoir at 1473.21 feet, and the maximum level of water storage at 1,550 feet. Similarly, the minimum operating level of Mangla was recoded at 1050 feet, current level of water in the reservior at 1154.90 feet, and the maximum level of water storage at 1,242 feet. In addition, the minimum operating level of Chashma Barrage was recorded as 638.15 feet, current level of water in the reservoir at 644.40 feet, and the maximum level of water storage at 649 feet. The recent escalation between Pakistan and India has brought the water reservoirs into limelight as India threatened to suspend the World Bank-brokered Indus Waters Treaty unilaterally.
