Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Flood Commission (FFC) has said sharp peaks of high to very high flood are expected in River Jhelum at Mangla today, while River Indus is in low flood at Kalabagh, Chashma and Guddu Barrage.

According to a FFC report, other main rivers including Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej are flowing normal. The river flows and reservoir elevations indicates that Tarbela and Mangla reservoirs are at elevations of 1,530.65 feet and 1,239.35 feet respectively, which are 19.35 feet and 2.65 feet below their respective maximum conservation levels of 1m550 feet and 1,242 feet. The combined live storage capacity of Tarbela, Chashma and Mangla reservoirs is 12.643 MAF as compared to last year’s 13.551 MAF. According to the Lahore Flood Forecasting Division, monsoon low over North Bay of Bengal has intensified. Monsoon low-pressure area continues to prevail over eastern Rajasthan and adjoining western Madhya Pradesh, India, whereas a trough of westerly wave still persists over Kashmir and adjoining areas. “Seasonal low lies over northern Balochistan. Moderate moist current is penetrating into upper parts of the country up to 5,000 feet. As predicted by the flood forecasting division, scattered rain with isolated heavy falls and one or two very heavy falls is expected over the upper catchments of rivers Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej today,” the report said. Scattered rain may also occur over the upper catchments of River Indus including Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Peshawar, Kohat and DI Khan divisions, and northeastern Balochistan during the same period, which may generate flash flood flows in local nullahs – the tributaries of rivers Chenab and Ravi – and hill torrents of DG Khan and Kohat divisions today, it added. It said that the current spell of rainfall was likely to decrease from August 13. All authorities concerned have been advised to remain alert, and take all necessary precautionary measures in order to avoid loss of human lives and damage to private and public property.