The flow of the Chenab River has fallen sharply after India reportedly stopped water at two upstream dams, according to sources.
The river’s flow declined by around 53,000 cusecs within one day. The sudden reduction was recorded at Marala in Pakistan.
Sources said water was stopped at the Salal and Baglihar dams in India. This reportedly caused a significant decline in downstream water levels.
At 7am, water inflow at Marala was recorded at around 74,000 cusecs. However, the flow dropped significantly during the following hours.
By noon, the inflow had fallen to approximately 31,000 cusecs. This represented a decline of 43,000 cusecs within five hours.
The latest reported inflow at Marala stands at around 21,000 cusecs. This means the flow declined by 53,000 cusecs from the morning level.
Chenab River Water Flow Declines at Marala
The sharp decrease in Chenab River water has raised concerns about downstream supplies in Pakistan.
Sources described the reported stoppage as a serious issue under the Indus Waters Treaty. The treaty governs the distribution of water between Pakistan and India.
Under the agreement, the eastern and western rivers are allocated between the two countries under specific conditions.
The Chenab is among the western rivers covered by the treaty. Pakistan has rights over its waters, subject to permitted Indian uses.
India operates several hydropower projects on the river system. These include the Salal and Baglihar projects mentioned by the sources.
Any major change in river flows can attract attention because Pakistan depends heavily on the Indus river system.
Water from these rivers supports agriculture, irrigation systems and other requirements across large parts of the country.
The reported decline at Marala could therefore raise concerns among water authorities and farming communities.
However, river flows can also change because of dam operations, weather conditions and seasonal variations.
The reported cause of the latest decline is based on information provided by sources. Further official details may clarify the circumstances surrounding the reduction.
Authorities are expected to continue monitoring inflows at Marala and other key locations.
The latest situation has again highlighted the importance of the Chenab River within Pakistan’s water system.
In other news read more about: Indus River Floods Ravage Villages, Sindh Barrages Struggle Under Pressure
Any prolonged reduction could have wider implications for downstream water availability. The impact would depend on the duration and scale of the reduced flow.
