July 8, 2005	Friday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 30, 1426

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LAHORE, July 7: The Punjab Flood Relief Committee on Thursday directed the DCOs of Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat and Narowal to take flood protection measures in view of light to heavy rainfall expected in catchment areas of Ravi, Chenab, Sutlej and Indus rivers. These directions were issued during a meeting held with provincial relief commissioner Safdar Javed Syed in the chair. Need was also stressed for inspection and monitoring of protective dykes along river Ravi towards Shahdara.

The committee was informed that water flow in all rivers in Punjab was normal on Thursday except the Indus which was in moderate flood with 4.83 lakh cusecs discharge in the morning, but its water level was also falling.

River Chenab was expected to reach high flood level at Marala with water levels reaching to 400,000 to 550,000 cusecs during the next 12 hours. It had already crossed the danger limit at Akhnoor due to flash flows.

The Indus water discharge was 201,100 cusecs at Tarbela, 309,484 cusecs at Kalabagh, 343,213 cusecs at Chashma, 483,290 cusecs at Taunsa. River Jhelum water flow was 43,883 cusecs at Mangla, 25,994 cusecs at Head Rasool and 45,082 cusecs at Trimmu.

While the river Chenab discharge was 84,974 cusecs at Marala, 25,283 cusecs at Khanki, 12,286 cusecs at Qadirabad and 33,674 cusecs at Panjnad. River water flow at Jassar was recorded at 15,034 cusecs, 18,500 cusecs at Ravi Siphon, 15,515 cusecs at Shahdara, 7,120 cusecs at Balloki and 10,069 cusecs at Sidhnai.

The committee was of the view that the river water flow situation in the province was satisfactory.

Chief Meteorologist Shaukat Ali Awan said that 37mm rainfall had been recorded in Sialkot, 27mm in Shakargarh, 15mm in Jassar and 13mm in Zafarwal during the last 24 hours. Lahore also received light rainfall.

Director-general (Relief) Irfan Elahi said that an additional Rs500,000 ea