Pakistan issues flood warning after India releases 185,000 cusecs of water into Ravi River

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s disaster management authority on Sunday warned that the country’s Ravi River, a transboundary river crossing northwestern India and eastern Pakistan, was at the risk of experiencing “low floods” after India released about 185,000 cusecs of water from its Ujh Barrage.
Under the Indus Waters Treaty, which was brokered by the World Bank and signed between Pakistan and India in 1960, India has control over the waters of the three eastern rivers – the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej – while Pakistan controls the waters of the three western rivers — the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum.
“India has released approximately 185,000 cusecs of water from the Ujh Barrage [into] River Ravi,” the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) wrote on Twitter, citing the Pakistani Indus waters commissioner.
“As per flood limits of River Ravi at Jassar, LOW FLOOD in the flood plain areas is expected.”
Last year, the NDMA said, India had released 173,000 cusecs of water into the river, out of which 60,000 cusecs, which was approximately one-third of the released water, had flown to the Jassar town in the Narowal district of Pakistan’s Punjab province, causing low-level floods.
“Therefore, as per the PCIW, considering the previous record, approx 65,000 cusecs are expected to reach [Jassar] within the next 20-24 hours,” it said.
“The public is advised to stay informed and follow guidelines from relevant administrations.”
The authority said it had issued safety guidelines to deal with the possibility of floods, adding that local administration in vulnerable areas would be vigilantly monitoring the situation till July 20.
Relief agencies, backed by local administration of multiple districts, have set up camps along the river banks and canals to transport residents to safety in case of floods.
The flood warning comes at a time when Pakistan has been witnessing monsoon rains that have killed more than 50 people over the last two weeks.
The rains have returned to Pakistan a year after the climate-induced downpour swelled rivers and inundated at one point one-third of Pakistan, killing 1,739 people. The floods also caused $30 billion in damage in cash-strapped Pakistan in 2022.