Punjab on high alert as India releases 170,000 cusecs of floodwater in Ravi
Authorities in Lahore on alert since Monday as India releases another gush of floodwater into the Pakistani rivers. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) also warns that the country is expected to receive “above average rainfall” during the ongoing monsoon season.
Officials from the Indus Water Commission of India informed their Pakistani counterparts that at 5:30 pm, 170,000 cusecs water had been released into the Ravi after opening the spillway at the Ujh Barage.
As per the Indus Water accord, India is required to inform Pakistan in advance about the release. The Ujh Barrage is located at Jasrota village in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
This is the second time India released floodwater into the Pakistani rivers this season. Earlier, the water was released into the Chenab River.
The water released by India in the Ravi River would enter Pakistan on the night between Monday and Tuesday, according to the officials. The water would raise the flows at Jassar to 70,000-100,000 cusecs, as confirmed by the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) and the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
A flood warning in the Ravi that might cause flooding in the rivers at Gujranwala, Lahore, and Multan was also issued by PDMA. There was a risk of moderate to high flood in the Ravi, which means many districts including Lahore, Narowal, Sheikhupura, and Okara might be affected by floods.
