Heavy monsoon rains and glacier melting have triggered a rise in water levels across rivers in Punjab, while flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have claimed 307 lives over the past 48 hours, disaster management authorities reported on Saturday.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab, the Indus River is in medium flood at Tarbela, Kalabagh, and Chashma barrages, and in low flood at Taunsa Barrage.
The Sutlej is in low flood at Ganda Singh Wala and Sulemanki, while the Chenab is in medium flood at Khanki and Marala headworks and in low flood at Qadirabad. The Ravi is in low flood at Balloki headworks.
Tarbela Dam has reached 1,546.50 feet—96.49% of its 1,550 feet capacity—while Mangla Dam has filled to 1,209.35 feet, or 66.81% of its full capacity of 1,242 feet. The PDMA has urged the public to avoid swimming in rivers and canals and to cooperate with authorities in case evacuations become necessary.
Meanwhile, the PDMA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported that cloudbursts and flash floods over the past two days left 307 people dead and 23 injured. The casualties include 279 men, 15 women, and 13 children, while the injured comprise 17 men, four women, and two children.