India on Sunday shared information with Pakistan about releases of waters into the Sutlej River, which is already experiencing high levels of flooding leaving south Punjab inundated for the past two weeks, raising fears of water management as the floods proceed into Sindh.
Authorities in Sindh have said they are ready for a surge of more than 800,000 cusecs at Guddu Barrage. However, the pressure on Punjab has yet to abate, as the successive floods in the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab have left large parts of the province under water, particularly in the south.
“The Indian High Commission informed Pakistan that water flow in the Sutlej River would rise further,” said a spokesperson for the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). “The Sutlej is already experiencing high-level flooding at Harike downstream and Ferozepur downstream,” he said.
The fresh release of waters from India has raised fears of extremely high levels of floods in the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab over the coming days. Punjab PDMA Director-General Irfan Kathia told media on Sunday that the province was in the midst of a 10th monsoon spell, warning it would continue until Sept. 9. “The Gujrat district has been facing a severe emergency for the past 24 hours due to heavy rains,” he noted, as citizens shared images and videos of flooded streets online.
The provincial government has said it has deployed heavy machinery from across Punjab in Gujrat to drain all the water. They maintain that, if the rains do not persist, the situation will improve within 24 hours.
During his press interaction, Kathia confirmed that five people had drowned after a boat capsized in Jalalpur Pirwala. “Financial assistance will be provided to the affected family within 24 hours,” he vowed.
The PDMA has said that thus far, 25 of 41 districts in Punjab have been impacted, affecting over 4.15 million people. It says more than 2 million people have been moved to safer locations, while 60,000-70,000 people are housed in relief camps. The official warned that Multan would remain flooded until mid-week, as incoming water continues to bolster the present inundation.
Sindh preparation
On Sunday, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the province has expedited evacuations of riverine populations as it prepares for the floodwaters to reach it. He said thus far 128,000 people had already left their homes. This number, he added, could rise to 324,000.
“Our preparations are complete. The rain in Sindh is manageable, and rainfall in Koh-e-Suleman is not so intense as to immediately flood the river. But we remain cautious,” he said, while stressing that the more urgent situation was unfolding in Punjab.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a fresh alert for torrential rainfall, predicting that the deep depression over North Gujrat in India is likely to move westwards along adjoining areas of Pakistan during the next 12-24 hours. Due to this weather system, strong monsoon currents are likely to penetrate in southern half of the country. Under the influence of these meteorological conditions, widespread rain-wind/thundershower with strong gustywinds are expected in Sindh’s Tharparker (Mithi, Islamkot, Nagarparkar, Chachro, Dhali, Diplo, Kaloi), Umer Kot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Khairpur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Matiari, Tando Allayar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Hyderabad, Karachi, Thatta, Badin Sajawal, Jamshoro, Dadu, Kashmore, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Ghotki from the evening of Sept. 7 through Sept. 10, with occasional gaps.
In Punjab, rain-wind/thundershower is expected in Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Okara, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Vehari, Khanewal, Multan, Lodhran, Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan, Rajanpur, Kot Addu and Dera Ghazi Khan from Sept. 7-9. Isolated places in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad and Wazirabad are also expected to experience rain during the forecast period.
Balochistan’s Barkhan, Musakhel, Loralai, Sibbi, Zhob, Naseerabad, Bolan, Dera Bugti, Kohlu, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbella, Awaran, Pasni, Makran coast and Gawadar may face rain-wind/thundershower (with scattered heavy falls) from Sept. 7-10, with occasional gaps.
Rain-wind/thundershower (with Isolated heavy falls) is expected in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur) from Sept. 7-9, with occasional gaps.
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, rain-wind/thundershower is expected in Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Swabi, Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat and Kurrum from Sept. 7-9.