SUKKUR July 12: There will be a medium flood in the River Indus in the next 72 hours if the water level continued to increase at the the present pace.

The water level at the Guddu Barrage was recorded at 265,591 cusecs upstream and 232,418 cusecs downstream, 230,977 cusecs at Sukkur Barrage upstream and 185,252 cusecs at downstream and 133,960 cusecs at the Kotri Barrage upstream and 103,568 cusecs at downstream.

Water levels at Mangla and Tarbella dams have surpassed their dead levels and the continuing rains in the catchment area will further rise the water level in the river.

A senior irrigation officer told this correspondent that the Guddu Barrage had recorded an increase of about 7,000 cusecs but the water pressure had slowed down. He said this had minimized the chances of a medium flood in the Indus and only a low flood could occur in the river.

Sources in the irrigation department said vulnerable points of the river embankment were under vigilance and the chief engineer of the Guddu Barrage had established a camp at the barrage to monitor the situation.

They said breaches in watercourses and canals had further aggravated the situation in low-laying areas.