The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Punjab has issued a “high alert” as India released a significant amount of water into the Sutlej–river, leading to concerns of flooding in Pakistan.
The PDMA stated that low-level floods were expected in plain areas, citing flood levels below Sutlej in the Indian city of Firozpur. As a precautionary measure, hundreds of people have been evacuated from villages along riverbanks in Pakistan over the past two days.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to make necessary arrangements to handle potential flooding in Ravi, Chenab, and Sutlej rivers.
The Punjab Relief Commissioner, Nabil Javed, confirmed that the water released by India into the Sutlej river was expected to reach Kasur’s Ganda Singhwala village in the next few hours. District commissioners have been instructed to complete preliminary arrangements, including the evacuation of people living in low-lying areas, to prevent any untoward situations.
The Punjab government has emphasized that the protection of life and property is their top priority. Rescue 1122 disaster response teams have been alerted and instructed to ensure the availability of necessary machinery and equipment for rescue efforts.
Authorities have also been directed to ensure there are no shortages of food, water, or medicine at relief camps.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) stated that medium-level floods were reported from Harike and Firozpur in India, and they were expected to reach Ganda Singhwala village in Kasur within the next 24 to 48 hours.
The likely impact of floods includes the inundation of low-lying areas and flooding of crops along the Sutlej river.
The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) also reported scattered thunderstorms and rain expected over the upper catchment of Sutlej.