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After continuous heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir region of India, its direct effect is now being seen in Pakistan, where the water level of rivers has started rising dangerously. According to Pakistani media reports, after the sudden arrival of water from the Indian side, the water level of Chenab river rose rapidly, due to which there has been huge devastation in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the news of death of many people has come to light.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s forecasting center has warned that there may be low to moderate flooding in Chenab and Ravi rivers during the next 24 hours, which could worsen the situation.

Flood situation in Pakistan due to water arriving from India

According to the report of Pakistani media outlet ‘Dawn’, after the sudden rise in water level, the flow of Chenab river has reached 180,000 cusecs. The water coming from India is being held entirely responsible for this. A senior official of the Punjab Irrigation Department said that this heavy flow of water has directly brought the Chenab river into the moderate flood category. The official claims that India had not given any official information to Pakistan in advance about this increase in water flow from the upper reaches.

Pakistan Meteorological Department has said in its warning that due to the strong monsoon system which will be fully active from July 20 to 24, the water flow in all the major rivers of the country can increase to very dangerous levels. The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy flooding in all tributaries of the Chenab, Jhelum and Ravi river systems.

Speaking to Dawn, a senior official of the Punjab Irrigation Department said that Sunday was a very shocking day for him. Due to heavy rains in Kashmir, they suddenly received a lot of water from the Indian side, due to which the flow of Chenab river reached around 180,000 cusecs within just 2 to 3 hours. Even at around 9 pm, the river flow was recorded at 155,000 cusecs, which falls squarely in the moderate flood category.

Serious allegations made against India for not providing information

Pakistani officials also allege that no prior information was shared by India regarding this heavy flow of water or possible heavy rains. The Dawn report said that although Pakistani officials were expecting rain in India’s Kashmir region from July 21, the water flow increased completely suddenly and unexpectedly much before that.

Apart from Chenab River, the flow of water in Indus River has also become very fast. The inflow of water in Tarbela dam built on Indus river has been recorded at 19,600 cusecs and outflow of 195,500 cusecs. Along with this, the inflow of water in Mangala Dam built on Jhelum river has been recorded at 29,400 cusecs and outflow at 1,400 cusecs.

Ban on Indus Water Treaty and India’s stance

It is noteworthy that after the ban on the Indus Water Treaty in April last year, India has stopped sharing any sensitive information to the flow of the river with Pakistan. Angered by this, Pakistan is continuously alleging that India is deliberately tampering with the flow of water, due to which terrible situations like drought and sometimes sudden floods are being created in Pakistani areas.

However, India has not officially reacted to stopping the flow of water or creating any obstruction in it. But India’s stand has always been clear that it has full rights over the waters of these rivers and is completely free to use them as per its domestic and national needs.