Barrage Collapse Sends Uncontrolled Water Into Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: The ongoing flood disaster in Punjab has been intensified by a dam breach in India and the suspension of key cooperative mechanisms under the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistani officials stated on Friday.
According to Reuters, a major structural failure occurred at the Madhopur barrage on India’s side of the Ravi River, where the middle section was reportedly washed away by powerful water currents. Video footage aired by Indian media shows two gates of the barrage collapsing under pressure from heavy monsoon flows.
Pakistani officials claim this breach triggered an uncontrolled surge of water across the border, inundating low-lying areas in parts of Lahore and worsening the already dire flood situation across Punjab. Authorities were caught off guard by the volume of inflow, which they say was not communicated in advance by Indian officials.
India Denies Intentional Flooding, Blames Rains
An unnamed Indian government source acknowledged the failure of two gates at the Madhopur barrage but denied any intentional move to flood Pakistan. The source told Reuters that the flow is being regulated as much as possible using the Ranjit Sagar Dam, located upstream of the Ravi.
The official further attributed the incident to relentless monsoon rainfall, insisting that Indian authorities are doing “whatever they can” to mitigate the situation on their side of the border.
However, Pakistani disaster management officials argue that India’s suspension of data-sharing under the Indus Waters Treaty has severely limited Pakistan’s ability to prepare for such emergencies. The lack of timely warnings, they said, has added to the damage, especially in regions already struggling with historic flooding from the Sutlej, Chenab, and Ravi rivers.
