Water levels begin to recede in Chenab River, high flood persists in Sutlej

LAHORE, Pakistan

Water flow in the Chenab River has started to decline at key barrages, though dangerous flood levels persist across parts of Punjab, officials said Thursday.

At Head Khanki, discharge dropped from 1.05 million cusecs to around 859,000 cusecs, while at Head Qadirabad the flow stood at 996,601 cusecs, according to the provincial irrigation department.

The Sutlej River remains in high flood, with discharge at Ganda Singh Wala exceeding 261,000 cusecs, submerging farmland and rural communities. At Bahawalpur, hundreds of acres of cotton and rice crops have already been inundated.

Meanwhile, medium-level floods are reported at Head Marala on the Chenab (191,000 cusecs), at Head Balloki on the Ravi, and at Sulemanki on the Sutlej.

Authorities warn that while water levels on the Chenab are easing, the risk remains high in the Sutlej basin where embankments are under pressure and crop losses are mounting.