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.

Opinion

Editorial

Solidarity with Palestine
Updated 29 Nov, 2024

Solidarity with Palestine

The wretched of the earth see in the Palestinian struggle against Israel a mirror of themselves.
Little relief for public
29 Nov, 2024

Little relief for public

INFLATION, the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services over a given period of time, has receded...
Right to education
29 Nov, 2024

Right to education

IT is troubling to learn that over 16,500 students of the University of Karachi (KU) have defaulted on fee payments...
A hasty retreat
Updated 28 Nov, 2024

A hasty retreat

Govt should not extend its campaign of violence against PTI and its leaders, thinking it now has the upper hand. Enough is enough.
Lebanon truce
28 Nov, 2024

Lebanon truce

WILL it hold? That is the question many in the Middle East and beyond will be asking after a 60-day ceasefire ...
MDR anomaly removed
28 Nov, 2024

MDR anomaly removed

THE State Bank’s decision to remove its minimum deposit rate requirement for conventional banks on deposits from...