Islamabad/Lahore:
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) ordered on Thursday immediate evacuation of societies along the Sutlej River after a sharp increase in upstream water discharge and forecasts for further intensification in the coming days.
Officials said that the water flow at Harike Barrage rose to 111.461 CuseCs at. 22, which triggered strong downstream movement. Discharge from Ganda Singh Wala is expected to rise to between 100,000 and 110,000 CUSCS, while the head Suleimanki is expected to receive about 80,000 CUSSCS.
NDMA’s National Emergency’s Operation Center (NEOC) warned that the eighth Monsun Former – which brings heavy rain to the river’s upper drainage areas – can push the power towards Ganda Singh Wala to 120,000 CUSSCS from August 23.
Previously, Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed a continuous increase in Sutlej’s water level at Ganda Singh Wala, where it said the river was already at the medium -sized level at 95,000 CUSSCS.
A stream of 80,000 CUSSCS in the Sutlej River corresponds to a low-level flood, 120,000 CUSERCs for a mid-size flood and 175,000 CUSERCS to a high-level flood. Neoc said sustained rainfall and reservoirudes were expected to aggravate the flood situation.
NDMA has placed all relevant departments and relief services on high alarm, and encourages residents of flooded areas to comply with evacuation orders, protect livestock and agricultural assets and avoid movement near channels, nullah’s and flooded zones.
NDMA said it coordinated with provincial and district administrations for timely response and uninterrupted monitoring. PDMA 298 vehicles had been deployed together with 13 boats, 16 lifrings, 210 rescue jackets and other rescue equipment to help evacuations.
Tarbela Dam
Tarbela Dam – the country’s second largest reservoir – achieved its full conservation capacity of 1,550 feet above average sea level on Thursday.
“The Tarbela Dam reached its maximum level of conservation of 1,550 feet above the sea level average today, resulting in 5,728 million hectares of waterable water in the reservoir,” the Water and Power Development Authority announced.
