ISLAMABAD:
On Monday, water resources ministry sources warned that the country’s rivers were already rising due to monsoon season.
On Monday, the country’s major water reservoir, Tarbela Dam, opened its spillways for six hours to release excess water.
Sunday opened the Tarbela spillways for an hour. Due to development, the reservoir’s water level is 1,512 feet, below its 1,550-foot capacity.
A credible source reports 201,000 cusecs of Indus River flow at Tarbela. This discharge may raise the water level to 1,531 feet in 10 days. After 1,531 feet, Tarbela Dam’s spillways will open.
On Sunday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicted monsoon showers starting Monday. The PMD warned of Swat River catchment cloudbursts. Swat and Kabul rivers may flood due to monsoon precipitation. The Sindh River and this enhanced water flow could trigger floods.
Thus, lower riparian barrages may be stressed.
The north, especially Skardu, had temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius. The source reported 396,000 cusecs of glacier meltwater entering rivers due to this heatwave.
From Monday evening to Saturday, the PMD predicts strong thunderstorms and rains in Islamabad, Lahore, and Peshawar. The government warned of floods in low-lying areas due to meteorological conditions.
