Islamabad: India aggravated monsoon-triggered floods in Pakistan by providing faulty information, a post-flood report by the government has claimed.
Under the Indus Waters Treaty, India is bound to provide information about water level in Ravi, Sutlej and Beas, Chenab and Jhelum during the flood season.
The Express Tribune reported that a post-flood report of the Irrigation and Power Department says India provided misleading information regarding water flows in Rivers Chenab and Jhelum resulted in aggravating damage in 14 districts during floods between September 5 and 17. The floods inundated 1,241 villages and 2.1 million acres of land in 14 districts. As many as 248 people lost their lives in the calamity.
The report says, India provided confusing data to the Pakistan Commissioner of Indus Waters and urged Pakistan to take up the issue with Indian authorities to avoid such losses in the future.
The report also blamed official mismanagement for the floods and loses by saying that the natural drains were encroached which added to floods. It has recommended that flood forecast system be improved. It has also called for enhancing the capacity of storm drains.