Downstream Residents Warned as Tarbela Dam Spillways Set to Release Water

Authorities have issued an urgent advisory for communities downstream of Tarbela Dam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan, as the dam’s spillways are scheduled to open on July 13, 2025, releasing 160,000 to 260,000 cusecs of water into the Indus River. The move, prompted by rising water levels from heavy monsoon rains, could trigger flooding in low-lying areas. This article explores the warning, its implications, and the need for proactive measures to protect lives and livelihoods.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) announced that the spillways would open at 2:30 PM on Sunday, urging residents in Swabi, Haripur, and Nowshera to avoid riverbanks and canals. “The PDMA directs the district administration to keep the local population alert,” the advisory stated, as reported by Dawn, emphasizing risks to fishermen, livestock herders, and children near waterways. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) forecasts moderate to heavy monsoon rains through July 15, exacerbating flood risks in the Indus, Kabul, and Jhelum rivers. With Tarbela’s water level at 1,520 feet—118 feet above its dead level of 1,402 feet—the release is critical to prevent overflow, but it underscores the dam’s ongoing sedimentation challenges, which have reduced its capacity by over 33% since 1977.

Local communities, reliant on the Indus for fishing and agriculture, face significant risks. “We’ve seen floods devastate villages before; people need to act fast,” said Zahid Khan, a resident of Hund village, in an interview with Dawn. The NDMA’s emergency helpline (1700) is active for updates, and district officials like Swabi’s Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Irfanullah Mehsud have urged residents to relocate to safer areas. The government’s response, however, highlights a broader issue: inadequate infrastructure investment to manage monsoon surges, leaving rural areas vulnerable. Recent X posts reflect public frustration, with users like @aminattock noting Pakistan’s mere 9% water storage capacity compared to the global 40% average, calling for better resource management.

As the Indus River swells, the spillway opening is a necessary but risky measure. It serves as a stark reminder of the need for robust flood preparedness and long-term solutions to address sedimentation and storage limitations, ensuring Pakistan’s communities are not left at the mercy of nature’s unpredictability.