- Web Desk
- 6 Hours ago
Chenab to be in high flood level again at Marala, Khanki, Qadirabad
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- Web Desk
- Sep 03, 2025
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Authorities on Tuesday declared the next 24 hours critical as India a day earlier released water in Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej amid the worsening flood situation in the fertile plains of Punjab in Pakistan.
Later in the evening, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued a high-level flood alert for the next 24 hours at Marala, Khanki, and Qadirabad along the Chenab River, with effect from 10pm on Tuesday.
The warning also covered the nullahs feeding the Chenab and Ravi rivers, as heavy monsoon rains continued lashing the catchment areas.
And on Tuesday after 8:30pm, waterflow in the Sutlej River had again surged to 267,000 cusecs which was 253,000 cusecs less than one hour ago.
INDUS WATERS TREATY
Earlier, the Ministry of Water Resources warned that the Chenab River would witness another surge after India informed Pakistan about releasing water from the reservoirs in Occupied Kashmir.
On this subject, the Indus Water Commission — formally named as the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) — said India shared the information through the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, not through formal channels, which was received at 6pm on Tuesday.
Read more: India shared flood warning through diplomatic channels, not IWT: FO
Moreover, it added that India had also released water in the Tawi River.
Originating in the Doda district of Occupied Kashmir, Tawi passes through Jammu and meets Chenab at Marala after entering Pakistan in Sialkot.
Under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), India is bound to regularly share information through a mechanism established under the agreement brokered by the World Bank.
However, the Modi government suspended the IWT soon after the Pahalgam attack — a move that led to countermeasures by Islamabad and the Indian strikes inside Pakistan, triggering a four-day war in early May.
Read more: Punjab witnesses exceptionally high flood, India releases more water
Meanwhile, extreme weather events continue battering Pakistan like other parts of the world when powerful interests best represented by the Trump administration are trying their best to make the concept of climate change or global warming controversial.
Read more: Experts blast Trump climate report, giant iceberg starts vanishing
AT RISK
Also on Tuesday, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned that the Panjnad Barrage had a capacity to sustain a flow of 650,000 cusecs as the structure was expected to deal with a deluge of 650,000 to 700,000 cusecs.
On the other hand, the official concerned were mulling over breaching protective levee to protect the Shershah Bridge, as the water level in the Chenab River rose at Trimmu. Hence, the flood threat was increasing downstream at Muhammad Wala near Multan.
To tackle any eventuality, Jhang, Sahiwal, Toba Tek, Okara and several other cities have been placed under high alert.
Meanwhile, the Sutlej River was still still in very high flood at Ganda Singh Wala even after the passage of around two weeks. With India releasing more water in the river, Sutlej is bracing for even higher flood in the next 24 to 36 hours.
It is a worrisome development for the downstream areas, as the continuous flood threat is making it impossible for the authorities to send the people back to their homes after being directed to evacuate the flooded lands.
When comes of the Sidhnai Headworks are concerned, waterflow in the Ravi was still on the rise with the last reading standing at 145,000 cusecs at 8pm against the previous level of 135,550 cusecs.
Located in the Khanewal district, Sidhnai is the point where Chenab and Ravi meet.
THE PANJNAD AFFAIRS
Located in the Bahawalpur district near the town of Uch Sharif, Panjnad serves as the confluence of Chenab and Sutlej rivers. Although some still call it Chenab even after that point, it is actually the name given to the river formed after the merger of all the five rivers that gave Punjab its name.
Earlier, the Jhelum River becomes part of Chenab at Trimmu.
Meanwhile, it is Kot Mithan in the east where Panjnad meets the Indus River.
The NDMA said the deluge in Chenab would reach Panjnad on September 3 where the accumulated flow from Chenab and Sutlej would be between 650,000 and 700,000 cusecs.
It is expected the flood in the Sutlej River would reduce to 80,000 to 100,000 cusecs by the time it reached Panjnad.
Later on September 6, the floodwaters of Indus River would reach Guddu — at least a day later than earlier estimates.
Read more: Guddu may see 1.2m cusecs flood in worst-case scenario
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