Tarbela spillways opened as dam filled to capacity

LAHORE:

With monsoon activity intensifying across Pakistan, the authorities concerned have issued fresh warnings and taken precautionary measures as flood risks loom, particularly in Punjab and parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Despite the active monsoon, water flow in major rivers — including the Indus at Tarbela, Kalabagh, Chashma, and Taunsa — remains within normal levels, as do tributaries of the Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, and Sutlej.

Tarbela Dam is currently 96% full, Mangla Dam is at 62% capacity, and Indian reservoirs are reportedly at 56% capacity, according to PDMA data.

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The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) confirmed that spillways at Tarbela Dam were opened at 11:30 pm Wednesday night. The release was prompted by the dam’s near-full status and forecasted rains in the catchment areas throughout August.

The spillway release may raise water discharge to 240,000 cusecs, potentially increasing downstream river levels. According to PDMA, the 2025 monsoon season has so far resulted in 164 fatalities, 582 injuries, damage to 216 homes, and the loss of 121 livestock animals.

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The Flood Forecasting Division has reported a low-level flood at Guddu and Sukkur barrages on the Indus River, though the river remains within its channel boundaries at other major control points.

The Meteorological Department has also warned of potential landslides in northern areas, including K-P’s districts of Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, and Abbottabad, as well as Murree, Galiyat, G-B, and AJK.

Rising water levels in seasonal streams and nullahs could disrupt traffic and pose safety risks, especially in mountainous areas.