Following the release of 19,540 cusecs water by the Indian authorities from its dams, the River Ravi is in low floods. Talking to Business Recorder here on Saturday, officials of Flood Forecasting Division, Lahore disclosed that rise in water level in River Ravi is due to combination of release of water by India and local rains in the river catchment areas.
They said the India released water from its three dams after water level in the reservoirs increased due to recent rains over the catchment areas around Indian dams on River Ravi. They observed that it is likely that the water inflow of River Ravi will decline, since there is no forecast of rain on the Indian side and hence India would not release more water into the river.
The figures given by the Flood Forecasting Division Lahore state that water inflow of River Ravi at Jassar (the river's entry point from Indian to Pakistan) stands at 17,900 cusecs, at Syphan 41,216 cusecs, at Shahdarah 40,780 cusecs and at Balloki 40,475 cusecs. It may be noted that the river's water inflow between 135,000 and 150,000 is considered very high flood/danger level. District Co-ordination Officer Lahore Sajjad Bhutta said there is no threat of flooding to the provincial capital.
He said the water released by India into River Ravi will take 12 hours to reach Lahore and the inhabitants residing in the riverbed have been evacuated. He was of the view that since there is no rain forecast on the Indian side, no further water will be released from the Indian dams. "The existing release of water by India would pass through Lahore without causing any problem," he added.