India’s Sudden Water Release into Jhelum Triggers Panic in Muzaffarabad

India’s sudden release of water into the Jhelum River without informing Pakistan has triggered a sharp rise in water levels near Muzaffarabad, forcing the local administration to declare an emergency in Hattian Bala. Mosque loudspeakers were used to urgently warn residents along the riverbanks to evacuate, causing widespread panic.

The surge of water entered from Indian-occupied Anantnag and flooded downstream areas like Chakothi. This action comes just days after India threatened to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, an agreement that had survived three wars and decades of regional conflict.

Pakistan’s National Security Committee condemned the move as a clear act of aggression, vowing to take lawful countermeasures under international law. Officials warned that further hostile actions by India could severely escalate tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.

While the United Nations issued a brief call for restraint, it has yet to take any substantial action. Pakistani officials continue to monitor river levels closely, hoping that global bodies will step in before the situation worsens.