Rattled Pakistan claims 90% drop in water supply, blames India for blocking Chenab River flow, says agriculture…, warns of…
India Pakistan tension: Amid the rising tension between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, Pakistan has claimed that India has stopped the Chenab River water flow from entering Pakistan. The spokesperson for Pakistan’s Indus River System Authority, Muhammad Khalid Idrees Rana, said that since Sunday, May 4 morning, about 90% less water than usual has been flowing into Pakistan and if the water flow stays this low, Pakistan may have to cut water supplies to its farms by 20%., reports Bloomberg.
Due to the blockade, the water level in the Chenab River in Jammu’s Akhnoor area has dropped to a very low level which is drawing villagers in large numbers and many were looking for gold, silver jewellery, and coins, reported ANI. Officials said the water level fell because the flow of the river was restricted by closing all gates of the Baglihar and Salal dams to refill the reservoirs.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police warned people on Monday, May 5, not to walk across the Chenab River in Jammu’s Akhnoor area as the water level in the Chenab River would rise soon and asked people to leave the area for their safety. “The water level in the Chenab River is going to increase. Everyone is requested to come out of the river,” the police and local authorities said in an announcement.
The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by India has rattled Pakistan. The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) advisory committee on Monday expressed alarm over a sharp drop in water flow from the Chenab River at Marala, caused by reduced supply from India. This drop could lead to a 21% water shortage in Pakistan during the early part of the Kharif cropping season, reported ANI.
The report further said that the IRSA Advisory Committee met in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Sahibzada Muhammad Shabir to finalise the expected water availability for the remaining Kharif period, which runs from May to September 2025. Shabir is the Chairman of IRSA at IRSA HQS Islamabad.
During the meeting, the committee reviewed the water situation for both the early Kharif period (May to June 10) and the late Kharif period (June 11 to September). The committee members jointly raised concern about the sudden fall in water flow from the Chenab River at Marala, warning that this could lead to severe shortages in the early Kharif season.
IRSA warned that if the current situation continues, there could be a 21% water shortage during the rest of the early Kharif period. The water situation will be monitored daily, and the shortage estimate may be updated if the flow from the Chenab continues to drop. For the late Kharif period, the expected shortage is around 7%.
(With ANI inputs)
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