Islamabad, April 26: An unprecedented fury wreaked panic in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Saturday, as the River Jhelum reportedly overflows all of a sudden, even without any cloudburst.
As per reports, the water that entered from India's Anantnag, through the Chakothi area, surged the water level in the PoK.
With the water level on the rise, alerts were issued across Muzaffarabad area in afternoon with locals alleging release of water from the Indian side without any prior intimation to Pakistan.
Locals living along the River Jhelum from Chakothi border to Muzaffarabad witnessed the sharp rise in water level, fearing an off-season flood.
On being aware of the incident, the local administration in Muzaffarabad confirmed the sudden increase in water levels along River Jhelum, prompting the announcement of a water emergency in the Hattian Bala area.
Pakistan claims that the release of water without prior intimation is part of India's tactic and attempt to put the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack, earlier this week.
The locals in Hattian Bala, Ghari Dupatta, Majhoi, and Muzaffarabad confirmed the rising level of water, stating that warning announcements have been made in mosques, calling on locals living along Jhelum River to move to safer locations.
The warning created panic among the residents living near the riverbanks, said a resident of Ghari Dupatta village.
