Tarbela | Pakistan

Water flow remains normal in most rivers across Punjab, while low-level flooding continues at Tarbela and Kalabagh along the Indus River, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

ISLAMABAD: Monsoon rains have significantly improved water levels in the country’s rivers and reservoirs, with Tarbela Dam reaching its maximum storage capacity and Mangla Dam’s water level rising to 68 per cent.

LAHORE: Tarbela Dam, the country’s second largest reservoir after Mangla Dam, reached its maximum storage level of 1,550-feet on Sunday, reflecting a significant increase in the country’s water conservation capacity. Sources attribute the filling of the Tarbela Dam to the ongoing high-flow season due to rains and snow melting. According to the flood forecasting division of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the water conservation level in the dam at 6pm on Sunday reached 1,549.48 feet after increasing from 1,549 feet gauged at 6am. The minimum operating/dead level of the dam is 1,402 feet and the live storage recorded on Sunday was 5.523 Million-Acre Feet (MAF). In 2024 and 2025 (same day), Tarbela Dam had attained filling to 90pc and 96pc, respectively. On the other hand, the water conservation/storage level in Mangla Dam is also increasing fast and reached 1,206.45 feet, around 35.50 feet short of its full storage capacity of 1,242 feet. Since the minimum operating level of the dam is 1,050 feet, the l...

The water level at Tarbela Dam has risen 82 feet above its dead level following monsoon rains, while inflows into the reservoir continue to increase.

HYDERABAD: The Sindh government has expressed grave concern over ‘persistent delays’ in Tarbela Dam infrastructure works by Wapda, which have been causing severe operational constraints for Sindh and posing an imminent threat to the kharif crop season. Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro wrote to federal Minister for Water Resources Mian Mohammad Mueen Wattoo that Wapda had failed to complete projects within the 33-month timeline approved by Irsa in 2022. The deadline expired in June 2025, but work remains unfinished. Indus River System Authority (Irsa), whose advisory committee is scheduled to discuss water availability and shortages for the upcoming kharif season under the Water Apportionment Accord, 1991, on April 7. The minister noted that outflows from Tarbela have already been restricted to 150,000 cusecs due to constraints in Tunnel-4 and Tunnel-5, curtailing Sindh’s irrigation supplies despite adequate reservoir levels. The situation may worsen as testing of Tunnel-4’s low-level outlet (LLO) has ...

• Lower riparian takes measures to tackle inflows from swollen Indus tributaries at Guddu Barrage • Irsa director says flood of about 650,000 cusecs likely at Guddu if current situation persists HYDERABAD: As Sindh anticipates a very high flood between Sept 1 and 3 at Guddu Barrage — its first barrage on the Indus River — due to the swollen eastern rivers currently wreaking havoc in Punjab, the downstream province has asked the authorities to reduce outflows from Tarbela Dam to help it manage the deluge. As multiple rivers submerge Punjab, Sindh has reached out to the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) to reduce outflows from Tarbela and retain water at Chashma Barrage — a request accepted by the authority. The provincial irrigation authorities are keeping an eye on flows generated in the Chenab, Sutlej, and Ravi rivers, as all these rivers converge in the Indus at Mithankot after passing the Panjnad Barrage built over the Jhelum River. At Panjnad, all tributaries of the Indus meet on their way to the sea th...

The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) announced on Thursday that Tarbela Dam has been filled to its maximum conservation level of 1,550 feet, with a storage capacity of 5.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority ((PDMA) on Sunday issued a warning for people downstream to stay away from the banks of the Indus River ahead of the Tarbela Dam’s spillways being opened. A PDMA alert issued today said the spillways would be opened at 2:30pm on Sunday, with the water level likely to reach 160,000 to 260,000 cusecs due to the release of water from the dam. It cautioned that flooding is likely in the Indus River and its tributaries and canals. “The PDMA directs the district administration to keep the local population alert,” the notification said, urging the public to avoid going near rivers and canals. It also cautioned parents that children should not go near canals. “Fishermen and livestock keepers should move to safer places,” the advisory said. Tourists and locals were urged to heed the advisory. “In case of any untoward situation, the public should call 1700,” the PDMA said. A similar warning was issued earlier this month, with sources telling Dawn that the sp...

The spillways of the Tarbela Dam have been opened to release water, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) confirmed on Thursday.