The ongoing drought in Punjab has severely impacted the Jhelum River, with the water level at Mangla Dam dropping to critical levels, leading to the suspension of affordable electricity supply from the dam. The situation, which has worsened due to the lack of monsoon rains, has exacerbated the region’s already struggling energy crisis.
The Jhelum River, which heavily depends on rainfall and glacier melt, has dried up significantly, leaving behind barren riverbeds. Officials confirmed that the water level at Mangla Dam has reached its “dead level,” halting the generation of 1,050 megawatts of electricity, which was a crucial source of power for the region.
An Executive Engineer from the Jhelum Irrigation Department shared that the ongoing water shortage has been caused by insufficient rainfall in the catchment areas. “In line with the guidelines provided by IRSA (Indus River System Authority), we have had to stop water releases from the dam,” the official explained.
This significant water scarcity poses a severe threat not only to agriculture but also to the power supply in the region, with the Jhelum River relying on 70% of its water from rainfall and 30% from glacier melt. Experts warn that without substantial rainfall in the coming weeks, the situation is likely to deteriorate further, potentially affecting millions of residents who rely on both agriculture and hydropower.
