India released a surge of water into the Sutlej River without prior notice, triggering a low-level flood in Pakistan’s Kasur district and raising alarms about India’s water management practices.

On the night of August 11, 2025, approximately 29,000 cusecs of water reached Ganda Singh Wala in Kasur, creating a low-level flood that threatens villages along the river.

Pakistani authorities condemned India’s action as irresponsible, accusing it of endangering lives and agricultural lands.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab issued an immediate flood alert, warning of potential further water releases within the next 72 hours due to high water levels in Indian dams, including Bhakra (61% full), Pong (76%), and Thein (64%).

Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and local officials described the release as a deliberate act, with some sources labeling it “water terrorism.”

This incident follows a pattern of unannounced water releases by India, including a similar event in 2019 when 200,000 cusecs of water flooded Ganda Singh Wala, damaging crops and displacing residents.

The move violates a 1989 bilateral agreement requiring both nations to provide advance notification before releasing floodwater.

The 1989 agreement, a supplement to the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, mandates prior notification to prevent such crises, but Pakistani officials claim India has repeatedly disregarded this obligation.