"PoK Emergency: Sudden Jhelum River Flood Explained | India's Water Diplomacy Shift 2025"

 

🚨 Emergency in PoK: Sudden Jhelum River Flood

1. What Happened?

• On April 26, 2025, emergency declared in Muzaffarabad district, PoK.

• Reason was sudden and unusual rise in Jhelum River water level.

• Areas like Hattian Bala, Ghari Dupatta, Majhoi, and parts of Muzaffarabad city saw flood-like conditions.

Local Action:

• Sirens were activated everywhere.

• Mosques warned people through loudspeakers to run towards higher grounds.

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🗺️ Geography: Region and Importance of Jhelum River

2. About Muzaffarabad and Jhelum

• Muzaffarabad is capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

• It lies on the banks of Jhelum River.

3. Where Jhelum River Comes From?

• Originates from Verinag Spring in Anantnag district, India.

• Flows through Kashmir valley ➔ enters PoK at Chakothi ➔ finally into Pakistan.

4. Importance of Jhelum River

• Provides drinking water to lakhs of people.

• Supports irrigation for farming.

• Runs hydroelectric plants like Neelum-Jhelum Project.

• Helps in flood control systems.

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⚡ Allegations by PoK Authorities

5. Accusations on India

• PoK authorities blamed India for suddenly releasing huge water into Jhelum.

• Said no prior warning given, which violated usual water-sharing protocols.

• Claimed it risked lives and properties of PoK civilians.

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🔥 Timing and Political Sensitivity

6. Background: Pahalgam Terror Attack

• Just before this flood incident, there was Pahalgam terror attack in India.

• After that, India:

  • Suspended Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

  • Adopted new strategy to use water as weapon against Pakistan.

7. Why Pakistan is Angry?

• Pakistan believes the sudden water release was India's punishment after terror attack.

• They see it as non-military retaliation (means fighting without guns, but using water).

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⚖️ Can India Release Water Legally?

8. Treaty Rules

• Normally, India must inform Pakistan before releasing big water amounts.

• Treaty signed in 1960 (Indus Waters Treaty - IWT).

9. But Now?

• After Pahalgam attack, India unilaterally suspended the treaty.

• So legally, maybe India not bound to give prior information anymore.

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💧 Hydrological Impact

10. Springtime Snow Melt + Man-Made Water Release

• Every year, spring causes Himalayan snow to melt, increasing river flow naturally.

• But sudden human release of water on top of natural increase makes flooding worse downstream.

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🛑 Pakistan's Official Reaction

11. NSC Emergency Meeting

• National Security Committee (NSC) of Pakistan met urgently.

• Outcomes:

  • Condemned India's action as international norms violation.

  • Decided to complain to UN and International Court of Justice (ICJ).

  • Asked China, OIC, and Gulf nations to intervene.

  • Warned that this could start a "water war".

12. Bilawal Bhutto's Threat

• Pakistan’s leader Bilawal Bhutto said, "If India stops our water, blood will flow."

• His words increased the tension even more.

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🆘 Humanitarian Situation in PoK

13. Panic and Evacuations

• Mass panic among people.

• Evacuation started from low-lying villages.

14. Fears

• Fear of:

  • Mudslides.

  • Weak bridges collapsing.

  • Homes getting flooded.

15. Damage So Far

• Farmlands got submerged.

• Some infrastructure and houses damaged slightly.

• No big casualties yet, but risk is very high.

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🌏 Broader Implications

16. Shift in India-Pakistan Conflict

• Earlier fights were mostly with guns and diplomacy.

• Now, control of river water is emerging as a new powerful tool.

17. Possible Future Effects

• If India keep doing this:

  • It could cripple farming in PoK.

  • It may increase water scarcity in Pakistan.

  • Pakistan’s internal stability can also get disturbed.

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❓ Big Legal Questions Now

18. Key Doubts

• Is it legal for India to unilaterally end IWT?

• If river water becomes a weapon, what new rules will be needed?

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🛑 Related Developments

19. Indus Commission Suspended

• Regular Indus Commission meeting between India and Pakistan is cancelled indefinitely.

20. Indian Govt Actions

• Water Ministry told officials to:

  • Fill dams quickly.

  • Restrict river flow to Pakistan wherever possible.

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🚨 Military Movements

21. Pakistan Army's Response

• Pakistan army deployed troops near important river points.

• They fear more water releases could destabilize their control over PoK areas.

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Question 1:
Which of the following correctly explains the reason behind the emergency declared in Muzaffarabad district (PoK) in April 2025?

A) Sudden melting of Himalayan glaciers due to climate change.
B) Heavy monsoon rainfall causing flash floods.
C) Unusual rise in Jhelum River water levels, allegedly due to India's sudden release of water.
D) Earthquake-triggered dam collapse.

Answer: C) Unusual rise in Jhelum River water levels, allegedly due to India's sudden release of water.

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Question 2:
Under the Indus Waters Treaty (1960), before suspending it, India was required to:

A) Share equal water of all six rivers with Pakistan.
B) Inform Pakistan in advance before releasing a significant volume of river water.
C) Allow Pakistan to construct dams freely on Indian rivers.
D) Transfer control of Jhelum River to Pakistan during emergencies.

Answer: B) Inform Pakistan in advance before releasing a significant volume of river water.