Islamabad — Authorities have ordered immediate evacuation along the Sutlej River after water levels rose sharply, heightening the risk of dangerous flooding.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) confirmed late Thursday that water discharge at Harike Barrage reached 111,461 cusecs, sparking heavy downstream flow. Projections indicate that Ganda Singh Wala could see 100,000–110,000 cusecs, while Head Suleimanki is expected to receive about 80,000 cusecs.
The NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) warned that the upcoming eighth monsoon spell may push flows at Ganda Singh Wala up to 120,000 cusecs by August 23. Sustained rains and reservoir releases could worsen the crisis further.
Punjab’s PDMA earlier reported that the Sutlej was already in medium-level flood at 95,000 cusecs. Official benchmarks classify 80,000 cusecs as low flood, 120,000 as medium, and 175,000 as high flood.
Emergency services have been placed on high alert, with residents advised to evacuate immediately, protect livestock and agricultural assets, and stay away from inundated zones. For relief operations, 298 vehicles, 13 boats, 16 life rings, and 210 life jackets have been deployed.
In a related development, Tarbela Dam reached its maximum conservation capacity of 1,550 feet above mean sea level on Thursday, holding 5.728 million acre-feet of usable water, according to WAPDA.
Authorities are closely monitoring the flood situation, stressing that timely evacuation is key to reducing risk to life and property.