Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir Flooded After India Releases Dam Water

Rising waters from the Jhelum River have caused chaos and flooding in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan claims India released water from the Uri Dam without warning, leading to a water emergency in the Hattian Bala district.

Residents living near the river were forced to flee their homes as the water levels surged rapidly. Local officials in Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK, and Chakoti used loudspeakers to warn people and urge them to evacuate.

“We had no warning. The water came rushing in, and we’re struggling to protect lives and property,” said Muhammad Asif, a resident of Dumel, a village on the Jhelum River bank.

The situation has caused moderate flooding in low-lying areas of Kohala and Dhalkot, resulting in livestock losses and damage to crops. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed.

Pakistan’s government is accusing India of “water terrorism”, claiming the lack of prior warning violates the Indus Water Treaty, a 1960 agreement that governs the sharing of water from the Indus River system. The treaty requires both countries to share water release information to prevent harm downstream.

PoK authorities are focusing on resident safety, setting up temporary shelters and deploying rescue teams.

“We’re doing all we can, but the scale of this crisis is overwhelming,” said District Commissioner Bilal Ahmed. Authorities are advising people to stay away from the riverbanks and avoid fishing or grazing livestock nearby.

Meanwhile, Indian officials haven’t commented on the water release. Some Indian media outlets suggest the discharge was a routine dam operation necessary due to heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir.