On Saturday, tensions rose after India suddenly released a large amount of water into the Jhelum River without giving any prior warning. This caused chaos in villages along the riverbanks, especially in Chakothi and nearby areas.
Reports said the sudden surge of water raised serious concerns, with Pakistani officials accusing India of "water terrorism" and violating international laws and river agreements. They said the unexpected release put thousands of lives and properties at risk and showed India's hostile attitude.
Muzaffar Raja, director of operations at the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) in Muzaffarabad, confirmed that the water was released from a dam in India-Occupied Kashmir. He explained that the dam’s spillways were opened, leading to a moderate flood situation, and warned residents to stay away from the river for their safety.
Muzaffarabad’s Deputy Commissioner Mudassar Farooq, however, said there was no need to panic. He mentioned that the Jhelum River was only facing a low-level flood, with the water flow at around 22,000 cusecs.
The SDMA also made it clear that Pakistan was not informed in advance about the water release. Authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation, and it is expected that the extra water will take time to reach the Mangla Dam. Safety steps have been taken in areas downstream to minimize any possible damage.
Officials strongly criticized India's sudden action, calling it both unethical and a serious violation of international rules, and stressed the need for better enforcement of water-sharing agreements to avoid such problems in the future.
