Karachi/Tarbela: The Indus River water shortage has broken a 25-year record. In 2022, the overall water shortage in the Indus River was 40%, while at Sukkur Barrage, the highest recorded in the last 25 years was 53%.
For the first time in 25 years, the current water shortage in the Indus River has reached 52%, while at Sukkur Barrage, it has reached a record 69%, causing a drastic drop in water levels at Guddu and Sukkur barrages.
According to the in-charge of the Sukkur Barrage Control Room, such a severe water shortage has not been observed in the past 25 years. The situation has disrupted the water release system into canals, with water levels dropping to 20,000 cusecs at Guddu Barrage and 15,000 cusecs at Sukkur Barrage.
The official further stated that the effects of water scarcity are now clearly visible in the canals originating from the Sukkur and Guddu barrages, with the Dadu Canal wholly dried up and the Begari Canal showing vast stretches of dry land.
Meanwhile, Tarbela Dam has also reached a dead level. According to WAPDA sources, the usable water storage in Tarbela Dam is now zero, with the dead level standing at 1,402 feet. Similarly, Mangla Dam is also nearing dead level, with water levels recorded at 1,054 feet, just four feet above its dead level of 1,050 feet. The usable water storage in Mangla Dam currently stands at 77,000 acre-feet.
