The Indus River System Authority has started filling the Tarbela dam on the river Indus and Mangla dam on the river Jhelum as snow has started melting with increase of temperature in the upper mountainous regions of the country. These reservoirs had reached their dead level early last month owing to prolonged drought and below normal winter rains forcing the national water regulatory body to release extra water from the reservoirs to meet indents of the provinces for irrigating strategic Rabi (winter) crops including wheat, grams, lentils, oilseeds, vegetables and fodder for livestock.
According to rivers water inflows / outflows data of 13 April, the water level in the Tarbela dam has risen by 14 foot and 32 ft in the Mangla dam during past one week. IRSA is releasing 23,000 cusecs water downstream the Tarbela dam against the inflow of 27,000 cusecs water upstream in the river Indus while it is discharging 16,000 cusecs water from the Mangla dam against the inflow of 29,000 cusecs in the river Jhelum for the purpose of sowing of Kharif crops and hydel power generation. At present Rivers Kabul and Chenab are contributing 28,000 and 18,000 cusecs water respectively to the national economy.
Meanwhile, Met Office said on Wednesday, that a Shallow westerly wave is likely to affect western and upper parts of the country from Saturday night. Under the influence of this weather system (a) Rain-thundershowers with gusty winds is expected at scattered places in KP, FATA, Islamabad, Upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Lahore divisions) Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan while at isolated places northeast-Balochistan, central/southern Punjab (Multan, Bahawalpur, DG Khan, Sahiwal and Faisalabad divisions) during Sunday to Friday.
(b) There is high risk of landslides in mountainous and sub mountainous areas of KP, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and Isolated events of hailstorm are also likely during the period.