Web Desk: Water flows in the Chenab River at Marala have returned to normal ranges after an unusual and sharp decline earlier this month, according to the Punjab Irrigation Department.
Extraordinary Reduction Triggers Concern
According to hydrological data shared with Pakistan’s Commissioner for Indus Waters, river discharge dropped dramatically between December 10 and December 16, 2025, falling at times to as low as 870 cusecs. That level was far below the historical 10-year minimum range of about 4,018 to 4,406 cusecs for the same period, officials said.
Meanwhile, satellite imagery reviewed by Pakistani authorities showed a marked reduction in the surface area of India’s Baglihar reservoir on December 8, followed by an increase by December 13. Officials said the pattern suggested the reservoir may have been drawn down and then refilled, a move Pakistan argues is restricted under the Indus Waters Treaty for run-of-the-river projects on western rivers.
Pakistan Raises Issue With India
As a result, Pakistan’s Commissioner for Indus Waters has formally taken up the matter with his Indian counterpart, seeking detailed data on the causes of the extraordinary reduction in Chenab flows under the treaty’s consultation framework.
Signs of Stabilisation
However, conditions began to improve from December 17, when river flows rose steadily and reached 6,399 cusecs by early morning, re-entering the historical range for the first time since the mid-month decline. By December 19, flows measured between 4,505 and 6,494 cusecs, levels that align with or exceed long-term averages for this time of year, Punjab irrigation data showed.
Officials said monitoring will continue, adding that only information released through the office of Pakistan’s Commissioner for Indus Waters should be considered authoritative.
