The district administration opened the emissions of Rawal Dam on Sunday after continuous rainfall raised the reservoir’s water level to 1,748 feet.
According to the spokesman for the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration, the level was only four meters below the dam’s maximum storage capacity of 1,752 feet, causing the release of water to mitigate the risk of overflow.
Officials confirmed that the dam’s water level after discharging water for about six and a half hours fell to 1,746 feet. Waste roads were then closed as the situation stabilized.
The decision to open Spillways was made in coordination with various departments, including District Administration, Rescue 1122 and Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA).
These teams were deployed in critical places, including bridges, streams and vulnerable downstream points, to control the released water flow and secure public security.
Assistant Commissioner of Nilore monitored the entire water release operation and monitored security measures on the ground.
Magistrates, Rescue 1122 teams, ambulances and the union council staff remained stationed on various bridges and along the banks of streams throughout the discharge period.
The administration maintained contact with Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) to monitor precipitation patterns and assess additional risks.
According to officials, the dam’s waste roads are only opened when the reservoir approaches its storage limit, to handle water pressure and prevent potential damage to the dam structure.
Authorities assured that despite the heavy rain, no major flood or emergency was reported downstream due to timely coordination and monitoring.
However, residents who lived near water channels were asked to remain aware of updates from the district administration in the event of further rainfall.
Rawal Dam delivers water to Islamabad and Rawal Pindi and plays a key role in the control of seasonal rain.
Its operation along with weather monitoring is part of a broader effort to mitigate the risk of urban flooding in Twin Cities in the Monsun season.
The district administration stated that it would continue to monitor the situation closely and take preventative measures based on future weather forecasts.
The public was invited to cooperate with the authorities and follow security instructions to prevent any inappropriate incident.
Earlier in the day, the meteorological department had predicted further rainfall in the region and raised concerns about rising water levels in dams and rivers.
However, the administration assured that all precautions were in place to tackle the effect of continued rain.
