Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has warned that there is a risk of a super flood in Sindh due to India releasing a large volume of water into the Chenab River.
He urged the federal government to formulate a comprehensive climate change policy so that Pakistan can better cope with recurring natural disasters.
He made these remarks while addressing a press conference at the New Sindh Secretariat. Shah said that four days ago, 1.077 million cusecs of water reached the Qadirabad Barrage. He explained that the waters of the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers merge at Panjnad and then flow into the Indus River at Kot Mithan.
The CM said that currently, 250,000 cusecs from the Ravi, 350,000 cusecs from the Sutlej, and 200,000 cusecs from the Indus are merging into the Chenab’s flow – all of which ultimately reaches the sea through the Indus River.
He shared that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has forecasted that between 800,000 and 1.1 million cusecs of water may reach the Guddu Barrage around September 5. Shah warned that any flow above 900,000 cusecs is considered a super flood.
The CM assured that Sindh is fully prepared to face the potential threat. He said, “Our top priority is to protect human lives, livestock, and barrages.” He added that embankments (bunds) have been secured and raised by nearly six feet after the 2010 floods. Shah recalled that during the 2010 super flood, 1.148 million cusecs of water had passed through Guddu Barrage.
