The Mangla Dam administration has completed emergency measures after the potential threat of India releasing four lakh cusecs of water. The district administration has issued an emergency notification and issued an alert, while announcements have also been made through mosques to inform the public about the potential danger.
According to officials, the relevant departments are on alert, and rescue agencies, local administration, and WAPDA officials are constantly monitoring the situation. Instructions have also been issued to move people to safe places in the low-lying areas around the dam.
According to the Deputy Commissioner, if water is released by India, the areas around Mangla may be severely affected, given that all possible safety measures have been completed. The public has been asked to avoid rumors and only follow official instructions.
Due to recent rains and the melting of glaciers, the flow of water in the rivers of Punjab is continuously increasing, for which the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued instructions to the administrations of the relevant districts to remain alert.
According to the PDMA spokesperson, low-level flooding has been recorded at Tarbela, Kalabagh, Chashma, and Taunsa in the Indus River. Low-level flooding is also present at Khanki in the Chenab River, where the inflow of water is 340,000 cusecs and the outflow is 320,000 cusecs. The spokesperson further said that the inflow of water at Kalabagh is 332,000 and the outflow is 324,000 cusecs, while the inflow at Taunsa is 363,000 and the outflow is 357,000 cusecs.
The inflow of water at Chashma is 340,000 and the outflow is 320,000 cusecs, while the outflow in Tarbela is 350,000 cusecs.
According to the PDMA, the water flow in the Ravi, Jhelum, and Sutlej rivers is currently at normal levels, while the situation is also normal at the Marala, Qadirabad, and Trimu points of the Chenab river.
The PDMA has warned that there is a risk of flooding in major rivers of Punjab from July 22 to 24. The water flow in the rivers of Dera Ghazi Khan is currently normal.
The Director General of the PDMA has directed the administration of the relevant districts to remain alert because of possible threats and to make advance arrangements. According to him, all arrangements have been completed in the potentially affected areas.
Meanwhile, the water level in the Mangla Dam has reached 50 percent, and in Tarbela, 79 percent. The PDMA spokesperson said that the water level in the dams built by India on the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi is currently up to 36 percent, which is also being monitored continuously.
The DG PDMA has appealed to the public to take precautionary measures during the rainy season, avoid unnecessary travel during bad weather, and never touch electric wires and poles to avoid any accidents.