The Jhelum River, like other rivers in Punjab, is severely affected by drought, leading to the suspension of affordable electricity supply from Mangla Dam since last week.

The absence of monsoon rains has intensified drought conditions across the country.

The Jhelum River, which heavily relies on rainfall and glacier melt, has dried up, turning into a barren field. Officials confirmed that the water level at Mangla Dam has dropped to the dead level, halting the generation of 1,050 megawatts of electricity.

An Executive Engineer from the Jhelum Irrigation Department stated that due to insufficient rainfall, Mangla Dam is facing a significant water shortage. “Following IRSA’s guidelines, we have stopped the water release,” he added.

The critical water shortage poses a serious threat to agriculture and power supply in the region, as the Jhelum River depends on 70% rainfall and 30% glacier melt. Experts warn that without significant rainfall, the situation may worsen in the coming weeks.