ISLAMABAD, Feb 20: The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) on Thursday stopped water releases from Mangla dam and reduced discharges from Chashma barrage from 40,000 cusec to 10,000 cusec.

An Irsa official told Dawn the unprecedented pattern of river flows in the last few days of heavy rains are expected to reduce overall water shortage to 32 per cent against 34 per cent anticipated at the beginning of the Rabi season.

This meant that cuts in the water share of Sindh and Punjab to the tune of 45 per cent and 59 per cent for the remaining period of the season would accordingly come down when Irsa reviews its allocation on Feb 24. Subsequently, the Irsa would formally meet on Feb 25 to convey its allocations to the provinces.

The official said that sufficient water had already gone into the system in the last couple of days due to heavy rains and further discharges from Mangla and Chashma could have been resulted into floods and wastage of water.

The official said that inflows from both rivers — Jhelum and the Indus — have dropped significantly but high floods were witnessed at Qadirabad in river Chenab that would reach head Tarimu, Panjnad and Guddu after two days, five days and eight days respectively.

The inflow in river Jhelum at Mangla has reduced to 83,000 cusec against 111,150 cusec a day earlier and water level at Mangla dam was recorded at 1,102 feet against its dead-level of 1,040 feet and maximum limit of 1,212 feet.

The inflow in river Indus at Tarbela was recorded at around 27,000 cusec against 58,900 cusec at day earlier. Water level at Tarbela dam increased to 1,382 feet against a 1,381 feet a day earlier.

Meanwhile, a Wapda spokesman said that the regulation of Tarbela reservoir was being carried out strictly in accordance with the indent of Irsa and the agreed standing operating procedures.