ISLAMABAD: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Punjab issued a “high alert” on Tuesday after India released 208,597 cusecs of water into the Sutlej river.
Citing the flood levels below Sutlej in Firozpur, an Indian city located on the banks of the river, the PDMA said low-level floods were expected in plain areas.
Over the last two days, hundreds of people have been evacuated as increased water inflow in rivers from India threatened villages along riverbanks in Pakistan.
On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed authorities to make fool-proof arrangements to handle possible flooding in Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej rivers.
Talking to media on Tuesday, Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabil Javed said water released by India into Sutlej was expected to reach Kasur’s Ganda Singhwala, a village located at a distance of 59km from Lahore, in the next few hours.
He said commissioners and deputy commissioners of the areas concerned had been directed to complete all the preliminary arrangements, including evacuation of people living in low-lying areas, to prevent any untoward situation.
“Districts connected to the Sutlej river should finalise arrangements on an emergency basis and utilise all resources,” Javed stated, adding that the protection of life and property was the Punjab government’s “utmost priority”. –Agencies
