FLASH FLOODS: Rescue workers assist stranded motorists after heavy monsoon rains inundate roads in Landi Kotal, Khyber district. PHOTO: PPI
PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD:
Water levels surged across Pakistan’s major rivers on Monday as heavy monsoon rains swelled flows and officials said upstream spillway releases from Indian dams added to inflows, prompting fresh flood alerts, the operation of Tarbela Dam spillways and heightened monitoring of the river system.
According to official figures, the combined flow in rivers across the country reached 454,000 cusecs.
The Chenab River was carrying around 130,000 cusecs, while the Indus recorded flows of 232,000 cusecs at Tarbela, 243,000 cusecs at Kalabagh, 247,000 cusecs at Chashma, 210,000 cusecs at Taunsa, 164,000 cusecs at Guddu and 110,000 cusecs at Sukkur Barrage.
Water flow in the Jhelum River also increased, with 57,000 cusecs recorded at Mangla Dam.
Officials attributed the rising river levels to widespread monsoon rainfall and the opening of spillways at upstream Indian dams. Total water storage in the country’s reservoirs stood at 6.1 million acre-feet.
Furthermore, authorities also warned that an intense heatwave in Skardu and other northern areas, where temperatures reached 37 degrees Celsius, had accelerated snow and glacier melt, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods.
To manage the inflows, authorities operated the spillways at Tarbela Dam and decided to keep the reservoir at the maximum possible vacant capacity to accommodate floodwaters arriving from northern catchments.
The spillways, which were opened at 4pm on Sunday, were scheduled to be closed at noon on Monday.
Meanwhile, according to the Flood Forecasting Division’s 6am update, low-level flooding persisted at Head Khanki and Head Qadirabad on the Chenab River, while flows in the Indus, Jhelum, Ravi, Sutlej and Kabul rivers remained within normal limits at major gauging stations.
The division said Tarbela Dam’s water level stood at 1,506.01 feet, representing 58% of its storage capacity compared with 80% on the same day last year. Mangla Dam’s level was recorded at 1,175.85 feet, or 40% capacity, compared with 50% a year earlier.
During the previous 24 hours, the highest flows were recorded on the Chenab River, where Head Marala received 178,467 cusecs, Head Khanki 169,146 cusecs and Head Qadirabad 157,156 cusecs, all at medium flood level. The Jhelum River at Mangla recorded a flow of 70,000 cusecs.
The Flood Forecasting Division warned that medium to high flooding could develop at Head Marala, Head Khanki and Head Qadirabad over the next 24 hours, while low to medium flooding was expected at Mangla on the Jhelum. Low-level flooding was also forecast at Tarbela, Kalabagh and Chashma on the Indus.
Water levels also rose in the Deg Nullah at Kingra Bridge on the Ravi River, where flows reached 10,193 cusecs, placing the stream at a low flood level.
Later in the day, officials reported that inflows at Head Marala had reached 110,355 cusecs, while outflows stood at 88,082 cusecs, indicating low-level flooding. At Mangla, inflows into the Jhelum rose sharply to 133,000 cusecs, resulting in medium flooding, although downstream releases remained within normal limits.
Casualties
Meanwhile, the deteriorating weather also claimed lives in different parts of the country.
In Khyber district, three people died after being swept away by flash floods triggered by torrential rain in Landi Kotal.
A Rescue 1122 spokesperson said the death toll rose to three after rescue teams recovered the bodies of a woman, a man and a child. The woman and man were found in the Jabba Khwar area of Jamrud, while the child’s body was recovered from Parang Sam with the assistance of local residents.
According to the spokesperson, Rescue 1122 divers and local volunteers carried out a joint search operation before handing over the bodies to the relevant authorities for legal formalities. The rescue service urged the public to avoid rivers, streams and seasonal waterways during heavy rainfall and to immediately call 1122 in emergencies.
The flooding followed torrential rain in Landi Kotal and other upper parts of Khyber district, where swollen seasonal streams swept away several vehicles. Authorities said no additional casualties had been reported.
Meanwhile, heavy rain also lashed Peshawar and Nowshera, bringing temperatures down significantly after days of hot and humid weather.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, three members of a family were killed, and two others injured after a rain-triggered landslide struck a house in Hatli Bala village in Nikyal tehsil of Kotli district.
Officials said a mother, her daughter and her son died when the hillside collapsed onto the house. Their bodies were recovered from the debris and laid to rest, while the injured were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital. A loaded truck was also swept away by floodwaters in the area.
Heavy rain and a cloudburst also caused widespread destruction in the Neelum Valley, damaging infrastructure and disrupting normal life.
Elsewhere, torrential rain continued to batter Hazara Division, causing streams and seasonal nullahs to overflow, triggering landslides and blocking several roads.
In Abbottabad, heavy monsoon showers severely disrupted daily life. Flooding in the Tarnawai Nullah cut off a link road in Reala, halting traffic because no bridge exists at the crossing. Hundreds of trucks carrying phosphate remained stranded on both sides of the flooded route.
Intermittent rain also continued in Balakot and Kaghan Valley, where flash floods forced the temporary closure of the road leading to Saif-ul-Muluk Lake and another road at Sahuch. Machinery belonging to the Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) and the National Highway Authority (NHA) was deployed to clear debris and restore traffic, while several tourist vehicles and jeeps remained stranded.
In Haripur, heavy rain inundated low-lying areas after local waterways overflowed. Deputy Commissioner Haripur said residents living near streams had been shifted to safer locations.
The increased flow in the Indus also filled Tarbela Dam, prompting authorities to operate its spillways to release excess water.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from rivers, streams and flood-prone areas, and follow official advisories as the current monsoon system continues to affect northern parts of the country.
