‘Baseless’: India rejects reports of ‘deliberate’ flooding as water level rises in Chenab; cites Pak’s weather advisory

India has firmly rejected claims circulating in Pakistani media that it deliberately caused flooding in the Chenab River, labeling the allegations as "baseless" and "contrary to the facts."

“

We have seen Pakistani media reports alleging that India is deliberately causing flooding in Pakistan and such allegations are baseless and contrary to the facts.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs, stated at a press briefing that the recent surge in the Chenab River's water flow was a direct consequence of intense monsoon rainfall over Jammu and its surrounding catchment areas from July 20 to July 23, 2026. He emphasized that the event was purely weather-driven.

“

The recent increase in flows in the River Chenab is a direct consequence of intense monsoon rainfall over Jammu and adjoining catchment areas during 20–23 July 2026.

Jaiswal highlighted that Pakistan's own Flood Forecasting Division in Lahore, in an advisory issued on July 22, 2026, had attributed the high water levels to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment. He noted that these high flows were expected to persist before gradually receding. This, he argued, directly contradicted the narrative of any deliberate action by India.

“

Significantly, Pakistan's own Flood Forecasting Division, Lahore, in its Flood Advisory issued on 22 July 2026 (1718 PST), attributed the high flood levels in the River Chenab to heavy rainfall over the upper catchment and stated that high flows at Marala were expected to persist before gradually receding as rainfall over the catchment decreased.

Furthermore, Jaiswal dismissed allegations that India failed to issue flood warnings. He explained that the river flows during the period did not reach levels requiring special alerts, remaining consistent with prevailing monsoon conditions. He asserted that attempts to portray a natural flood event as an "upstream intervention" were "factually incorrect, technically untenable, and contradicted by Pakistan's own official flood advisories."

“

The rise in river flows is, therefore, a natural hydrological response to heavy monsoon rainfall and not the result of any deliberate action by India.