Low Flood likely in Sutlej River

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Flood Commission (FFC) on Wednesday said that Sutlej River is flowing in medium flood with water flows of 85,000 cusecs at Ganda Singh Wala (District Kasur) and is likely to attain low flood level at Sulemanki during the next 24 hour.

All other main rivers including Indus, Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi are flowing normal.

The actual river flows and reservoir elevations indicates that Tarbela and Mangla dams are at elevations of 1545.40 feet and 1202.85 feet respectively, which are 4.60 feet and 7.15 feet below their respective Maximum Conservation Levels of 1550.00 feet and 1210.00 feet.

The combined live storage position of Tarbela, Chashma and Mangla reservoirs is 10.990 MAF as compared to last year's 11.662 MAF, said a daily FFC report.

The Dam Management Authorities have already been advised to take utmost care and vigilance in further filling of both the reservoirs and strictly follow filling criteria and safety guidelines.

According to the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD), Lahore, yesterday's trough of Westerly Wave over North of Iran lies over Northeastern Afghanistan and adjoining areas.

Marked Seasonal Low still persists over Northwestern Balochistan and moist current from Arabian Sea is penetrating sub- mountainous areas of Punjab and Kashmir upto 5000 feet.

The FFD predicted fairly widespread thunderstorm/rain with heavy falls at isolated places over Kashmir, North and Northeastern Punjab including Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala and Lahore Divisions, besides upper catchments of Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej Rivers during the next 24 hours.

Scattered thunderstorm/rain may also occur over upper catchment of Indus River, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Southern and Central Punjab including Bahawalpur Division during the same period.

Significant rainfall events as reported during the past 24 hours include Kotli = 47 mm, Ura = 26 mm, Lahore = 25 mm, Kund = 20 mm and Sialkot = 18 mm.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011