Baseless allegations, says India on Pakistan’s claim of creating flood-like situation by increasing flow of Chenab

Water in the Chenab River flows out as several gates of the Salal Dam are opened on July 24, 2026 due to increased water levels caused by continuous rainfall in Reasi. Photo credit: ANI

India will continue to share “high flood data” with Pakistan for “humanitarian reasons”, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday (July 24, 2026).

MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a press conference that Pakistani media reports that India is deliberately creating a flood situation in Pakistan’s Punjab province by increasing the flow of water in the Chenab river are “baseless”. Officials further said that the non-operational status of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) has not affected water cooperation between the two sides and India has shared flood data at least 23 times in 2025.

Will share data

“Like last year, India will share high flood data with Pakistan for humanitarian reasons, through diplomatic channels as the situation arises,” Mr Jaiswal said, adding that Pakistan’s allegations of India releasing water were “without factual basis”. The Chenab remained in ‘high flood’ status for the last week as monsoon rains continued over Jammu and Punjab.

Mr. Jaiswal said the allegation that “India is deliberately causing floods is baseless and contrary to reality”.

“Regarding the allegations regarding flood warnings, the river flows during this period did not reach extraordinary flows requiring the issuance of special flood warnings. The observed flows were consistent with the prevailing monsoon conditions in the upper basins as confirmed by the Pakistan Flood Forecasting Offices,” an MEA spokesperson said.

Officials pointed out that despite the fact that the Indus Water Treaty was “put on hold” after the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, India shared flood-related data with Pakistan on at least 23 occasions last year. Similar data will be shared as and when the requirement arises this year as well, an official source said.

An official spokesman said the increase in river flows was the result of a “natural hydrological response” due to heavy monsoon rainfall in the area near Jammu. “Attempts to portray weather-induced floods as an upstream intervention are factually incorrect, technically unsustainable and inconsistent with Pakistan’s official floods,” Jaiswal said.

Published – 24 Jul 2026 23:37 IST