Flood alert in Pakistan as India may release river waters

The Pakistan Met Department has issued an alert on the chances of riverine flooding as India is likely to release rainwater upstream from its rivers after September 1.

"Currently, all water reservoirs in India have reached the maximum conservation level and it is expected that the showers that are expected on Wednesday and Thursday would prompt India to release extra water in the rivers, which would likely generate riverine flood in Pakistan," PMD Director-General Ghulam Rasul told the Express News.

He added that though India, before releasing water, issues alerts to Pakistan, to be on the safe side it is the responsibility of the Pakistan Meteorological Department to inform the authorities ahead of time.

"The PMD issues alerts as a precautionary measure. However, it does not mean that things would happen as predicted," he said.

"However, till date all rivers are flowing normally, and at a few places there are low-level floods. The situation is fully under control and there are no threats of riverine floods till now," he said.

"This year Pakistan has experienced only urban flooding so far - not riverine flooding till date," he said.

Pakistan and India share major rivers including Indus, Jhelum, Chenab and Sutlej.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority, monsoon rains have claimed 138 lives across Pakistan this year. Of them, 52 were children, 63 men and 23 were women.

The highest number of deaths was reported from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa where 52 people were killed followed by Fata with 27 deaths.

--IANS

ahm/rn