Jammu, May 6 -- India's abrupt release of 28,000 cusecs of water from the Chenab River at Head Marala, after a nearly 24-hour blockade that reduced flows to a mere 3,100 cusecs, has triggered flood warnings in Pakistan's Sialkot, Gujrat, and Head Qadirabad districts.
The surge, which violates the Indus Waters Treaty's requirement for prior notification, follows India's suspension of the treaty after the 22 April Pahalgam massacre, which left 26 civilians, mostly tourists dead.
The blockade, caused by India closing all gates at the Baglihar and Salal dams, left the Chenab riverbed nearly dry, allowing Pakistani residents to walk across normally submerged areas. The sudden water release has raised fears of flash floods, prompting Pakistani ...