ISLAMABAD, July 13: A high flood of about 500,000 cusecs is likely to hit Chashma Barrage after two days owing to rising flows in the Indus and Kabul rivers. Sources in the federal flood commission told Dawn on Wednesday that this would be the highest recorded flow at Chashma Barrage this year as total flows into Kabul and Indus rivers have already touched 446,000 cusecs on Wednesday evening.
In seven to eight days, about 550,000 cusecs of water will enter Sindh province from Guddu Barrage because Sutlej and Chenab river flow would also contribute to the Chashma discharges, the sources said.
The FFC sources said that discharges from Tarbela dam have increased to 330,500 cusecs on Wednesday evening after storing only 25,000 cusecs. The water level in Tarbela has touched 1526.64 feet against its maximum limit of 1550-feet.
The River Kabul is contributing another 153,500 cusecs to the Indus and hence 446,000 cusecs of water is currently flowing downstream Khairabad near Attock.
Responding to a question, the sources said, the recent rains had little impact on river flows in Kabul and Indus rivers and these were rising because of higher temperatures in the Northern Areas.
Similarly, total flows in the River Jhelum stood at 93,600 cusecs but only 4,000 cusecs of water was being used for storage. The remaining 89,556 cusecs is being discharged downstream Mangla dam. The water level in Mangla dam on Wednesday evening stood at 1197.05 feet against its maximum level of 1,212-feet.
Flows in Chenab at Marala on Wednesday evening stood at 121,389 cusecs while 92,759 cusecs was being discharged downstream Marala.
The FFC sources said the relevant army, district and civil defence authorities have already been put on alert after last week’s floods in Chenab.
APP ADDS: Chief meteorologist Shaukat Ali Awan said on Wednesday that flood waters after passing through Guddu and Sukkur would probably reach Kotri by Thursday.
Currently, the water level at Guddu has dropped from high to middle while at Sukkur the level has risen from middle to high, Mr Awan told PTV.
He said the present flow of water at Sukkur is 500,000 cusecs, which is a high flood condition.
At present the flow of water at Kotri is 129,000 cusecs but it will probably increase in the next 24 to 48 hours, according to Mr Awan. Flood waters have already passed through Trimu and the water level has fallen dramatically.
Mr Awan said there was no threat of flooding in the Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum rivers in the near future. But he said the water in the River Indus could increase to a middle level flood due to an excessive flow of water in the Swat and Kabul rivers.
The River Indus at Sukkur and the River Kabul at Nowshera are in high flood and it is likely that the water level will increase in coming days.
The River Swat is in very high flood at Munda and its water level is expected to surge.
The River Indus at Kalabagh, Chashma and Guddu is in medium flood and in low-to-medium flood at Tarbela. It is in low flood at Taunsa with a tendency to rise.
According to the Flood Forecasting Division, the discharge level at Sukkur stands at 500,000 cusecs and is likely to rise up to 540,000 cusecs, while at Guddu it is expected to fall from 473,000 cusecs to between 460,000 and 480,000 cusecs during the next 24 hours.
At Tarbela the discharge level is 350,000 cusecs and will be between 340,000 and 375,000 cusecs during the next 24 hours while at Kalabagh it is 376,000 cusecs and will be between 375,000 and 400,000 cusecs in the next 24 hours.
The River Jhelum is in low-to-medium flood at Marala with falling tendency and in low flood at Rasul. The Rivers Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej are flowing normally at all points.
Scattered rain of moderate intensity with isolated heavy showers have been forecast for upper catchments of all the major rivers along with northern, north-eastern and central Punjab and also over central NWFP and north-eastern Balochistan.
