'Unusual Surge' In Jhelum River Causes Panic In Pakistan: Report

Officials attributed the rise to snowmelt, while locals feared it was due to India's abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Residents of Muzaffarabad and surrounding areas in Pakistan panicked after an unusual surge in the water level in River Jhelum. (Representational Image)

Source : PTI

Panic triggered the residents of Muzaffarabad and surrounding areas in Pakistan after an unusual surge in the water level in River Jhelum, reported Dawn. 

While the officials attributed the rise in water level to snowmelt, the locals feared it to be floods as a result of the abeyance in Indus Waters Treaty by India. 

“A rise in the water level in River Jhelum at Muzaffarabad was recorded, leaving residents panicked," a local told the Pakistani newspaper. The panicked people looked out for any debris that may have come with water, as it does during flood seasons, but they could not find anything, the resident was quoted as saying. 

The increase in water flow was also confirmed by the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) which issues daily water situation reports. 

However, Met Department's Flood Forecasting Division ruled out the concerns stating that the rise was part of usual seasonal flows. 

Unusual Surge In Jhelum River 

Muzaffarabad division commissioner, Chaudhry Guftar Hussain said that an unusual surge was recorded in the Jhelum river water "after India released water into the river." 

He said that while the normal river flow in Muzaffarabad remained around 18 cumecs (cubic metres per second), it swelled to 26.4 cumecs at around 12:15 pm on Saturday. However, the flow reduced to 22 cumecs within an hour, he added.

The official further said there was no adverse impact reported from the low-lying areas adjacent to the river, which are generally vulnerable to such surges. However, he advised the residents to continue exercising caution. 

'Not Even Low Flood'

FFD Deputy Director Akhtar Mahmood explained that the surged water level does not qualify for even a low flood in the river. 

"Typically, these days we see up to 50,000 cusecs in River Jhelum. As of now (April 26), we have 47,000 cusecs, which doesn’t even qualify as a low flood in the river,” the official told Dawn. 

“A low flood in River Jhelum ranges between 75,000 and 110,000 cusecs,” he added.

“At times, the rise in Jhelum’s water level could also be due to the cleaning of a mini-reservoir at the Kishanganga run-of-the-river hydroelectric project. But I believe this rise is due to increased temperatures melting snow,” he concluded.