ISLAMABAD/ SUKKAR/GILGIT: In a welcoming development, India contacted Pakistan for the second time on Monday, warning of a potential flood in the Sutlej River.
In toto, Pakistan has been informed thrice about the high floods just in two days so far after India held the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance on account of a false flag operation in Pahalgam in the Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, claiming 26 innocent lives.
India formally held the 1960 IWT in abeyance on April 23–24, 2025, through decisions made by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on April 23 and a formal diplomatic communication on April 24.
Pakistan had condemned the gory incident, refused its involvement and offered an impartial inquiry. However, sanity seems to have prevailed on the part of India with its formal intimation of a high flood in the Tawi River earlier and now in the Sutlej River.
Talking to this reporter, Indus Waters Commissioner for Pakistan Syed Mehr Ali Shah said India Sunday informed Pakistan through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 10am about the high flood in Tawi River and for the second time on Monday firstly at 10 am about high flood at Harike in Sutlej River and secondly at 6m about high flood but below Ferozepur.
Following information from the Indus Waters Commission for India, the Indian High Commission in Pakistan informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan about the high flood in Sutlej.
The information was immediately communicated to the Met Office and NDMA for prior actions. Mr Shah said it was a good omen that India had started informing Pakistan about the floods intensity that will hit Pakistan’s territories.
To a question, he said so far India had not started exchanging the water data as per the IWT’s provisions. He said before and during the flood Pakistan’s Indus Waters Commissioner had written many letters to his counterpart seeking the exchange of water data. He hoped that the ice may start melting in the coming days.
However, independent experts are of the view that in the forthcoming SCO meeting to be held in China, the prime ministers of Pakistan and India may shake hands, as China and Russia are reportedly trying to bring both the neighbors closer by resolving the issues of terrorism and water related issues.
Imtiaz Hussain from Sukkur adds: A high flood was Monday declared at the Guddu Barrage, as water entered the low-lying areas, flooding villages and crops. Owing to the rising water level at Guddu, the Irrigation Department has officially declared a high flood situation.
The current upstream flow of water at the barrage is 543,184 cusecs, while the downstream flow stands at 507,853 cusecs. Following the declaration, the Irrigation Department has imposed an emergency in the area.
Dykes on both the banks of the river are being monitored through constant patrolling. However, concerns have been raised over the illegal pipes installed in the dykes of Begari Sindh Feeder, Desert Pat Feeder, and Ghotki Feeder.
The irrigation authorities appear reluctant to take action against these illegal installations. As the water level at Guddu continues to rise, severe flooding has occurred on both sides of the river.
Numerous villages, including Bakhshan Shah, Abdul Rehman Wagon, Sajan Wagon, Abdul Karim Machhi, Abdul Razzaq Machhi, Murad Chachar, have submerged and the residents are struggling to relocate their belongings and livestock to safer areas.
Despite the severity of the situation, the local administration has yet to carry out evacuations or provide essential relief. No medical camps or temporary shelters have been set up, leaving the affected villagers with no choice but to flee on their own.
In addition to displacing communities, the flooding has destroyed sugarcane and other seasonal crops across vast stretches of farmland. Shabbir Mir from Gilgit adds: More than 3,000 residents of Dain in Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) remain cut off from the rest of the region after floods washed away an old bridge, forcing the authorities to use temporary boats to ferry people and supplies.
“With 3,000 people in Dain cut off due to the washed-away bridge, temporary boats are being used to assist the residents,” said GB government spokesman Faizullah Faraq, adding that reconstruction of an RCC bridge at Dain would require the federal government support.
Relief operations continue in Talidas where hundreds of families have been displaced. The government says it is working with the federal authorities to restore connectivity and resettle the affected population.
According to Faraq, relief camps have been established in Talidas, where tents, clean drinking water and partial electricity supply have been restored. He added that significant progress had been made in reconnecting power and communication systems, while rehabilitation of Ghizer Highway had also been initiated.
“The only viable solution for the displaced families of Talidas is the establishment of a new village. The government, in collaboration with the federation, will build an alternative settlement for those who have lost everything,” Faraq said. He confirmed that an artificial lake formed in Talidas was now receding, reducing immediate risk to the surrounding areas. However, the collapse of the Dain bridge remains a major challenge.
Khalid Iqbal from Rawalpindi adds: The PDMA Punjab Monday issued a flood alert in the rivers and streams of Punjab due to heavy rains.
According to the PDMA spokesperson, there was a risk of flooding in the upper reaches of the rivers due to heavy rains in the next 48 hours. There is a risk of high to very high flooding in the Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers. There is a risk of urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Lahore and Gujranwala divisions.
Director General PDMA Punjab Irfan Ali Kathia said an alert had been issued to the commissioners and deputy commissioners, including the local government, agriculture department, irrigation department, health department, forest department, livestock and transport department.
The alert states that in view of instructions of the chief minister, all arrangements should be completed and the rescue teams deployed in advance at sensitive places to deal with the emergency situation.
