India’s Madhopur Headworks Glitch Triggers Flooding in Ravi, Pakistan Left Uninformed
August 29, 2025
LAHORE: Large parts of Lahore and surrounding areas were hit by flooding on Thursday after a technical fault at India’s Madhopur Headworks caused a surge of water downstream into the Ravi River. The situation worsened in low-lying areas as water flows rose to dangerous levels.
What has raised concern among officials is that Pakistan was not informed about the sudden rise in Ravi’s water levels or the technical malfunction at the Indian side. According to reports, only three alerts were shared recently by India—two related to the Sutlej River and one about the Tawi, a tributary of the Chenab.
Madhopur Headworks Malfunction
Located in Gurdaspur near Pathankot, the Madhopur Headworks diverts water into the Upper Bari Doab Canal for irrigation in Indian Punjab. Out of its 54 floodgates, four reportedly failed this week, leading to uncontrolled releases of water. The flow at Shahdara near Lahore spiked to nearly 220,000 cusecs, inundating agricultural land, damaging infrastructure, and displacing thousands of residents.
Indian media reports suggest that years of delayed maintenance have left the system vulnerable, with upgrades carried out only on a limited scale. Even local officials across the border described the failure as “negligence,” demanding accountability over crores spent annually on repairs.
Worst Flooding Since 1988
Authorities in Lahore described the situation as the most severe since 1988, when water flows in Ravi crossed 345,000 cusecs. Relief camps have been established, and rescue operations are ongoing to ensure the safety of affected families.
Treaty Obligations and Need for Dialogue
Under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), both India and Pakistan are required to share timely flood data to prevent such emergencies. The current crisis has once again highlighted the importance of effective communication and joint water management, especially as climate change continues to intensify monsoon patterns.
With fresh rains forecast over the coming days, experts emphasize the need for stronger regional cooperation and investment in flood-resilient infrastructure to safeguard communities on both sides of the border.
When contacted, Pakistan’s Indus Waters Commissioner Mehar Ali Shah declined to comment on the malfunction but confirmed that the situation is being closely monitored.
