Heavy Falls Expected In Catchments During Next 24 Hours: Federal Flood Commission

Federal Flood Commission (FFC) Monday reported all main rivers including Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej are flowing normal amid heavy falls reported to occur in the catchments of major rivers during the next 24 hours.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Sep, 2018 ) :Federal Flood Commission (FFC) Monday reported all main rivers including Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej are flowing normal amid heavy falls reported to occur in the catchments of major rivers during the next 24 hours.

The report had categorically mentioned that, "Owing to the rainfall activity in upper catchments of rivers Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab across the border, there have been increased discharges over the past 24 hours or so as reported by the Office of Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters (PCIW)".

It may continue during ensuing 24-36 hours, wherein River Ravi is likely to attain Medium Flood level at Jassar due to water outflow of 40,000-90,000 cusecs and River Chenab at Marala may also attain Low-Medium Flood Level as 100,000-150,000 cusecs water discharge. Gauge at Ganda Singh Wala on River Sutlej may range upto 15 feet during the same period, the report added.

Water situation at reservoirs is persisting to decline where the actual river flows and reservoir elevations indicates that Tarbela Dam is at 1513.98 feet, 36.02 feet below its maximum conservation level (MAL) and Mangla reservoir at 72.60 feet below its MAL of 1242 feet which is 1169.40 feet.

The present combined live storage of three reservoirs has been reduced to 6.

846 million acre feet (MAF) (50.04 per cent of the total storage capacity of 13.681 MAF).

The report claims the prevailing water storage situation as, "thus depicting a water shortage scenario for the ensuing Rabi Season starting 1st October, 2018".

According to Flood Forecasting Division (FFD), Lahore, Weak Seasonal Low persists over Northern Balochistan and is a source of drawing weak moist currents from Arabian Sea, which is penetrating into upper parts of Pakistan upto elevation of 3,000 feet.

"Yesterday's Well Marked Monsoon Low over Eastern Rajasthan (India) today lies over Northern Rajasthan (India) and adjoining Southwestern Uttar Pradesh (India), whereas yesterday's trough of Westerly Wave continues to prevail over Northern parts of Pakistan", the report said.

For the next 24 hours, as predicted by the FFD, Lahore, scattered thunderstorm or rain with isolated heavy falls may occur over the upper catchments of River Sutlej during the next 24 hours.

During the same period isolated thunderstorm or rain is also expected over the uppercatchments of Rivers Indus, Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi including Punjab (Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala and Lahore Divisions) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Malakand and Hazara Divisions), adding wet spell is likely to decrease from 25th September 2018.