India releases more water, high flood alert issued for Ravi, Chenab, and Satluj

Pakistan is on high alert for severe flooding as heavy rains in India and overflowing dams have sent massive volumes of water toward its rivers. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has issued an urgent flood warning, predicting high to very high floods in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers within the next 48 hours.

Urban flooding is expected in Lahore, Gujranwala, Jhang, Gujrat, Kasur, and Sialkot divisions. Local administrations have been instructed to prepare emergency response plans.

Commissioners, deputy commissioners, and departments including health, irrigation, agriculture, livestock, transport, and local government have been placed on high alert.

The PDMA has directed district administrations to activate flood monitoring, deploy early warning systems, and coordinate emergency measures across Punjab.

Flood situation in India

Torrential rains in northern India have already caused flooding in Pakistan.

Indian dams in Jammu and Kashmir are overflowing, pushing floodwaters into the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab.

India has also warned of imminent water releases from the Madhupar Dam.

Volumes of water in Ravi, Satluj, Chenab

As per the statistics of the current water volumes, a high flood situation exists in all three rivers Ravi, Satluj, and Chenab.

Forecasts suggest that flows could reach 80,000–120,000 cusecs at Jasr on the Ravi, between 150,000 and 200,000 cusecs at Marala on the Chenab, and 220,000 cusecs at Ganda Singhwala on the Sutlej.

Cross-border warning under Indus Waters Treaty

On Sunday, India formally alerted Pakistan for the first time about the looming flood threats under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), despite suspending the agreement in April after a Pehalgam incident in Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

In an official letter, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad conveyed “high flood” data for the River Tawi in Jammu on 24th August 2025 at 10:00 hours.

The Tawi, a tributary of the Chenab, flows into Pakistan’s Gujrat and Sialkot districts.

This marks the first significant communication between India and Pakistan since the recent four-day military standoff in May.

Senior Pakistani officials confirmed the Indian alert, saying the warning about the Tawi’s rising levels was directly shared with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On Monday, India alerted Pakistan again about the flood thread as its dams were near overflowing.

Indus Waters Treaty context

The IWT, in force since 1960, grants Pakistan rights over the western rivers Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab for irrigation, drinking, and hydropower use, while India controls the eastern rivers Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej but may also use the western rivers for limited purposes without altering flows.

Pakistan has strongly opposed India’s suspension of the treaty earlier this year, warning that any attempt to divert or block its guaranteed waters would be treated as an “act of war.”

Monsoon devastation in Pakistan

The latest flood alert comes as Pakistan reels from the devastation of monsoon rains.

Since June 26, nearly 800 people have died due to heavy downpours, flash floods, and landslides across the country, further raising fears of widespread displacement and destruction.

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