Pakistan has issued an emergency flood alert after India released additional water into the Sutlej River, raising fears of very high flooding across Punjab.
The Ministry of Water Resources confirmed that 28 key departments have been alerted, with potential risks identified in Harike and Ferozepur.
India’s decision raises diplomatic concerns
According to official sources, the Indian High Commission informed Pakistan through diplomatic channels about the water release. However, India did not use the channel of the Indus Water Commissioner, which is the standard communication mechanism under the Indus Waters Treaty. This has sparked concerns in Islamabad over bypassing the agreed framework.
Also Read: Pakistan confirms India's flood alert via diplomatic means, not IWT
The Ministry of Water Resources has warned of very high flood levels in the Sutlej River, urging provincial and local authorities to prepare for emergency measures.
Current river, reservoir situation in Pakistan
The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) provided the latest update on water inflows and storage across Pakistan’s rivers and reservoirs:
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Indus River (Tarbela): 199,500 cusecs inflow, reservoir level at 1549.78 feet with 5.71 million acre-feet storage.
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Jhelum River (Mangla): 35,900 cusecs inflow, reservoir level at 1226.50 feet with 6.08 million acre-feet storage.
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Chenab River (Head Marala): 96,300 cusecs inflow.
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Chashma Barrage: 237,700 cusecs inflow, water level at 648.00 feet with 0.25 million acre-feet storage.
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Kabul River (Nowshera): 34,300 cusecs inflow.
The combined storage at Tarbela, Mangla, and Chashma has now reached 12.53 million acre-feet, a critical level as monsoon rains continue in northern areas.
Also Read: Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab face high flood threat due to upcoming heavy rains
Risk of major flooding in Sutlej
Officials warn that the additional inflow from India may intensify flooding risks in the Sutlej River, particularly affecting low-lying areas of Punjab. Emergency teams have been instructed to remain on standby, with monitoring being carried out at sensitive locations along the river.
The Ministry of Water Resources said, “There is a risk of very high floods in the Sutlej due to sudden inflows, and precautionary measures are underway at all levels.”
