India, which has announced a number of measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that  claimed the lives of 26 people, has now stopped the flow of 90 per cent of water to Pakistan from  the Baglihar Dam built on River Chenab.  According to reports, the Indian government has now even started making preparations to reduce the water flow from the Kishanganga Dam built on the River Jhelum.  The dam has the capacity to store 15,000 acres feet of water. 

Through these hydroelectric dams — Baglihar in Ramban in Jammu and Kishanganga in north Kashmir, India regulates the timing of water releases.   The Baglihar Dam has been a longstanding bone of contention between the two neighbours, with Pakistan having sought the World Bank’s arbitration in the past. The Kishanganga Dam, on the other hand, has faced legal and diplomatic scrutiny, especially regarding its impact on the Neelum River, a tributary of Jhelum River. 

On April 26, India released water into the River Jhelum without giving any prior information to Pakistan, leading to a flood in the river that originates from Anantnag district in the Occupied Kashmir.  Due to the release of water, the water level of the Jhelum River had gone up, causing panic and fear among the people living along the banks of the river.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)