India’s early warning to Pakistan helped the neighbouring nation evacuate at lest 1,50,000 people in the areas along three rivers in its agricultural area to save them from flooding. New Delhi had warned Islamabad about its plans to release excess water from a dam, and advised them to take necessary steps.
The release of excess water apart from heavy rain in the region has already put Pakistan’s Punjab province under flood threat. This province serves as the country’s breadbasket and accounts for a significant portion of the country’s food supply.
The two nations witnessed intense tensions post Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor during which India also put Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance to teach Pakistan a lesson.
Pakistan had threatened India against holding the Indus Waters, which New Delhi said won’t be released ever as “blood and water” cannot flow together.
India warns Pak about flooding
Pakistan was warned about possible flooding a second time on Monday after India said it would release water from the rapidly filling Madhopur Dam, on its side of Punjab province. Dams across India-Pakistan border are seeing surge in volume due to incessant rain in the region.
Pakistani officials said they began forced evacuation before India’s warning, reported Reuters. According to the report, even army personnel are taking part in the evacuation drive.
India, on a regular basis, releases water from its dams when they get full, with the excess flowing into Pakistan.
Three rivers – Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab – flow into Pakistan from Indian territory. Those rivers are seeing medium to high flooding, the Pakistani authority said on Tuesday. It warned of more intense rains in Punjab and Pakistan’s Kashmir in the next 12 to 24 hours.
India-Pak tensions
Terrorists killed 26 innocent tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to tough decision from India including holding IWT on hold and stopping all sorts of business with Pakistan. Reacting to this, several Pakistan leaders threatened of war, but New Delhi made its stance clear.
Indian then launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terror bases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This stretched to four nights of intense drone and rocket firings. India destroyed several of Pak’s airbases. India has decided not to engage with Pakistan on any matter in any means unless it works to end terror breeding on its soil.