Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has started releasing water from Tarbela and Mangla dams for maturing rice and other summer crops as water flow in the four rivers has dipped to 1,74,000 cusecs. Irsa released 1.06,000 cusecs water from the Tarbela dam on river Indus against the inflow of 78,000 cusecs and 40,500 cusecs from the Mangla dam on river Jhelum against the inflow of 27,000 cusecs on Friday for irrigation and power generation purposes.
According to September 24, river flows and reservoirs level report of Flood Forecasting Division Lahore inflow in river Indus at Tarbela has fallen to 78,000 cusecs, in river Kabul at Nowshera 28,200 cusecs, river Jhelum at Mangla dam 27,000 cusecs and river Chenab at Marala near Sialkot 41,500 cusecs.
Punjab Irrigation sources told Business Recorder here on Friday that despite unprecedented floods in the country, there would be 10 to 15 percent shortage of water for sowing and maturing the winter Rabi crops including the strategic wheat, lentils, oil seeds, vegetables, fodder etc. Experts say that Pakistan has only 9 percent capacity to preserve its water inflows during the three monsoon season and rest flows into the Arabian sea.
FLOOD FORECAST (ALERT) FOR SUTLEJ RIVER: In another advisory FFC said though all the major rivers are flowing below the low flood level yet according to present Hydro-Meteorological situation and rains observed in the upper catchment areas of River Sutlej, Ganda Singh Wala (Kasur District) may attain a LOW FLOOD level during the period from 1200 PST of September 26, 2010 to 1800 PST of September 27, 2010 ranging between 50,000 to 60,000 cusecs (Approximately Gauge 18 - 19 feet). This may create inundation in low lying areas of river Sutlej and may affect inhabitants in the river bed around the districts of Kasur, Okara and Pakpattan.
MET OFFICE FORECAST FOR SATURDAY: Mainly dry weather is expected over most parts of the country. However, Isolated thunderstorm/rain is excepted over Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, North Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.
RAINFALL RECORDED IN (MM) DURING PAST 24 HRS (UPTO 0800 PST): Islamabad (Golra=40, Zero Point=34, Shamsabad=11, Saidpur=09, Airport=04, Bokra=01, Dhamial= Trace), Palandri=23, Mianwali=20, Lower Dir=15, Garhi Dopatta=11, Phulra, Kotli & Risalpur=09 each, Sehrkakota=08, Lahore(City=07, Airport= Trace), Talhatta & Dratian=07 each, Saidu Sharif, Oghi, Daggar & Chakdara=06 each, Kakul & Hattian Bala=05 each, Dir, Gupis & Mir Khani=04 each, Balakot, Muzaffrabad, Murree=03, Drosh, Kalam, Ravi Syphon & Shadiwal=02 each, Nauseri, Domel, D. I. Khan & Besham=01 each, Skardu, Bunji, Joharabad, Chilas, Gilgit & Hunza= Trace each.