LAHORE, Aug 17: Vast swathes of countryside along the banks of Sutlej River were inundated after India opened the spillway relasing large amounts of water, causing low to medium flood in the river between Ganda Singhwala and Suleimanki.

A peak of 65,000 cusecs was passing through Ganda Singhwala and 68,000 cusecs through Suleimanki, Flood Forecasting Division chief Hazrat Mir told Dawn on Sunday evening. He said the river was in low flood at both the places but several villages in Kasur, Okara and Pakpattan districts had been flooded.

The flow was likely to increase at both places over the next 24 hours, he said.

Mr Mir said the peak would reach the Islam headworks from Suleimanki in 42 hours, passing through Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar districts. However, he said, the flood might not cause any damage to human life and property because the river course between Suleimanki and the headworks was in proper shape.

He said that chances of spread of waterborne diseases and incidents of snake bite in the affected areas.

The Punjab government has said that the situation in the affected districts was under control and arrangements had been made to protect people’s life and property.

Reports reaching here indicated that the flood had affected Kasur’s Kanganpur tehsil and several villages in Okara, damaging standing crops there.

The army has started rescue work in Okara’s Baseerpur area, shifting people to safe places.

Meanwhile, the Flood Forecasting Division said the Indus River was in low flood at Chashma, Taunsa, Guddu, and Sukkur. The river was also in low flood at Balloki and the Kabul River was in medium flood at Nowshera.

Rain and thundershowers are expected at isolated places over upper NWFP, sub-mountainous areas of Punjab and Kashmir.