Kabul River Swells: Maroons 100s of Villages in NW Pakistan
By Shoaib Jabbar - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

PESHAWAR: With constant swelling, the water level in River Kabul reached to an alarming position, inundating a diverse rural terrain mostly close to Nowshera and Shah Alam in the NWFP on Thursday.

Flood warning centre in Peshawar says that water flow in the river at Attock was 196000 cusecs while river Kabul was flowing at 117000 cusecs high level at Nowshere and 13000 cusecs at Shah Alam.

River water has entered in Takhtabad, Tapokle and Garhi Muhajir Camp areas in Peshawar, while Liaquat Bagh was also came under the river water.

The river water level was gradually rising and several houses were inundated in the locality, Nazim Union Council Takhtabad Haji Mujeeb said. A number of houses were got vacated and people are moving towards safer places.

DCO Charsadda visiting various areas of the district to assess flood losses while tents and other necessary items will be provided to the disaster victims, District Revenue Officer said

Perspective

Lowland areas of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province [NWFP] along the river Kabul, running from Afghanistan into Pakistan, are facing the risk of grave flooding. The water flow in the river has increased significantly after a massive snowmelt, a UN interagency coordinator in the NWFP provincial capital, Peshawar said.

While Pakistan Army has begun full rescue operations, low-lying areas in the districts of Charsadda, Nowshera and Peshawar are reported to be at a high risk of flooding. The provincial government has asked the relevant departments to take appropriate measures and remain vigilant as the water flow in the Kabul River is on the increase," Dr Quaid Saeed, said.

The Cause

The increase in snowmelt has been caused by high seasonal temperatures, the national meteorological office in the capital, Islamabad said.

"The temperature in the river's catchment areas has shot up significantly over the last three days. The high temperatures are likely to continue for the next few days with more snowmelt adding to the river inflow," Anjum Bari, director of the Pakistan Meteorological Department said.

Recap

Mountainous parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan received heavy prolonged snowfall during the winter. This is now melting rapidly causing river water levels in the area to rise.

"Though temperatures remained low during April and May, which reduced any large scale flood risk, now they are high. This may cause flooding in low-lying areas."

Monsoon Forecast

Meanwhile, the meteorological office has announced its forecast for monsoon rains, which is crucial for the agriculturally based economy of Pakistan. Meteorologists are expecting a close to normal rainfall this year during the period July to September.

"Starting in the first week of July, on all Pakistan basis, the monsoon rainfall is likely to remain 15-20 percent below normal during the month of July but it is expected to be above normal during the months of August and September," said the Met pundits

The high seasonal temperatures are expected to abate in coming days. "Dust and thunderstorms with light rain will ease the intense heat over next 48 hours. However, at least one other hot spell will strike before the start of the monsoon," Muhammad Hanif at the PMD said.

Though health authorities have not confirmed any casualties, local media have reported over a dozen people killed and many others in hospitals suffering from sunstroke and heat exhaustion.

Flash floods triggered by a swollen Kabul River have destroyed dozens of homes in villages in northwestern Pakistan.

In-depth

As the water level continued to rise in Kabul, Swat and Shalam rivers Pakistan army troops on Thursday rescued over 300 families in flood-hit areas on the outskirts of Peshawar, Charsadda and Nowshera on the second day of rescue operation.

The sudden heavy flood in Kabul River has forced the Warsak Dam management to shut the turbines for one day to save the system from any serious damage.

The floodwater inundated Landi Daudzai, Tapu Angoor Koroona Takhtabad, and Jat Bala, Khazana villages in Peshawar district; and Jehangira, Gul Baila, and Ahmad Khan areas in district Charsadda, official sources said.

Troops on Alert

Sources in the ISPR confirmed the more troops had been put on alert to join the rescue work after a request in this regard from the provincial government.

Officials at Warsak Dam told this correspondent that maximum water flow so far recorded is 79,710 cusecs, adding that above 70,000 cusecs water flow through Warsak headwork is considered a flood-like situation.

The water flow in Kabul River at Nowshera point was recorded 1,16,400 cusecs river. The flood control managers say the water flow of up to 1,00,000 cusecs is a routine, and above that has the potential to create flood in the nearby areas.

Since Monday last the floodwater of Kabul and Shalam rivers had inundated all the villages on their banks in Daudzai area of Peshawar District, and as a result a number of inhabitants were shifted to safer places.

The flood control teams have already removed all the encroachments and unauthorized obstructions built around the rivers bed/banks so as to avoid human and property losses.

There are reports that at some picnic points developed by encroachers at Sardaryab, Naguman, Jenday, and Khiali, the government through police and other departments has been trying to brief and advise the visitors to stay away from these dangerous spots.

Besides, reports say the floodwater has already washed away standing crops of sugarcane, maize and vegetables in Katozai, Abzai, Ambadher, Gulabad and Naguman areas.

Senior Provincial Minister Sirajul Haq had said the other day that the World Bank had promised the NWFP government to provide Rs 2 billions in flood relief. However, the senior minister said that so far not a single penny had been received from the donor agency.

An official of Flood Relief Operation Abdul Wali Yousafzai said that with increase in snow melting there would be increase in water level in Kabul River.

He confessed there had been no proper arrangements to store the water in Warsak Dam, adding that all the incoming water would be let to flow downward stream, which would definitely cause damages to population and property in Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera and Mardan areas.

Of Electricity Generation

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Water and Power Amir Muqam, said that sudden flood in Kabul River had been badly affecting the electricity generation of Warsak Power House. However, he said the situation was under control after precautionary measures were taken to protect it from further damage.

The Minister said that floods usually bring timbers, stones and bushes, which slow down the water flow and cause trouble in power generation.

Amir Muqam said that sudden heavy flood in Kabul River had forced the Warsak Dam management to shut the turbines for one day to save the system from being damaged. He said this while briefing journalists at 132 KV Shahi Bagh Grid Station here on Thursday.

PESCO chief Brig. Tahir Saeed Malik and Warsak Dam Chief Engineer Syed Ishtiaq Hussain Shah were also present on the occasion.

Owing to the closed turbines the electricity generation for the day was zero. The flood in rivers ensued after heavy summer led to melting of snow on mountains.

The minister said stern action would be taken against those PESCO employees found guilty of resorting to loadshedding beyond the scheduled time.

He added that the government had allocated a handsome amount of Rs 7.1 billion for gigantic Kurram-Tangi dam in Annual Development Programme, Which would irrigate thousand acres land of Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Tank.

Muqam claimed that four grid stations had so for been completed in the province besides transmission lines in Mardan, Swat, Hussai and Katekar.

PESCO chief Tahir Saeed Malik said that the matter of outstanding dues against provincial governments would be cleared by June 30.●