CHINIOT: The water level is soaring in the River Chenab at Head Marala as the local authorities apprehended medium level flooding in the river.

Deputy Commissioner Chiniot has directed concerned departments and the settlements along the river to take precautionary measures in view of likely flooding in Chenab.

India opened all spillways of the Salal Dam on the Chenab River in the Reasi district of the Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir after water touched a dangerous level.

Authorities of the Head Marala and irrigation department have been advised to remain prepared for any possible situation. Water level of the Head Marala increased from 76,000 cusecs to 140,000 cusecs in five hours.

The River Chenab flow coming from Head Marala will pass through Chiniot today, deputy commissioner said in a statement.

According to officials, the river water level at Head Marala has reached 100,000 cusecs due to discharge of water in the river from India without prior intimation.

Earlier, Sialkot Deputy Commissioner said that all departments concerned had been alerted to deal with any emergency situation. He said the district administration was keeping round-the-clock check and monitoring flood situation in River Chenab at Head Marala-Sialkot.

The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) Lahore had earlier predicted medium to high floods in the Nullahs of Rivers Chenab & Ravi, River Jhelum at Mangla (Upstream) and flash flooding in the local Nullahs/streams of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir besides urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Lahore Divisions during next 72 hours.