ISLAMABAD: The disaster management authority of Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province issued a fresh alert late Monday night, warning of possible floods as India released 70,614 cusecs of water into Pakistan’s River Sutlej.

Heavy monsoon rains in Pakistan have claimed at least 80 lives since June 25, according to official figures. Authorities have been on especially high alert for the season’s first flooding after India diverted waters from dams into the Ravi River, which flows from India into Pakistan, prompting evacuations from the lowlands in eastern Punjab province.

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 this week released thousands of cusecs of water into Pakistani rivers after alarming levels of heavy monsoon rains triggered floods in Indian cities.

“India has released 70,614 cusecs of water into River Sutlej from Harike,” the PDMA Punjab wrote on Twitter. “By tonight (Monday night) the water will enter Pakistan through district Kasur’s Ganda Singh.”

The disaster agency called on the deputy commissioners of Vehari, Pakpattan, Kasur and Okara cities — located near River Sutlej in Pakistan — to make arrangements to keep people safe from any flood-like situation.

“All districts should set up relief camps,” the PDMA said, adding that advance arrangements should be made to ensure people’s lives and property remain safe in case the areas are flooded. The PDMA Punjab warned people from venturing near rivers and canals.

Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned on Sunday that Punjab’s northern and northeastern cities including Lahore, Sialkot, and Narowal were expected to receive heavy monsoon rains due to which Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej and their tributaries could experience flooding.

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.