River Surge Claims a Life, Fuel Relief Reaches Jhelum, and a Historic Library Is Reborn
Three stories defined Jhelum this week: a fatal water surge on the Jhelum River traced to unannounced dam releases across the border, a high-profile government visit to roll out subsidised fuel tokens for low-income commuters, and the reopening of a nearly century-old public library that has been transformed into a modern reading and digital hub. Together they capture a city navigating safety risks, economic pressures and a quiet but meaningful investment in civic culture.
Woman Drowns After Sudden Jhelum River Surge Linked to India's Uri Dam Release
A 55-year-old widow, Rehmat Bibi, drowned in the River Jhelum near Muzaffarabad on October 3, 2026, after India abruptly released water from its Uri Dam without advance warning — a recurrent source of danger for riverbank communities in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan's Jhelum belt. Rehmat Bibi was collecting firewood along the bank at Kucha Syedan, between Chinari and Hattian Bala, when the sudden current swept her away. ChinarI police, Rescue 1122 and local residents mounted a joint search operation; her body was recovered from the river near Muzaffarabad after several hours. According to State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) senior official Khushal Mughal, the unannounced release caused the river to surge from its seasonal norm of 12–15 feet to over 18.5 feet in a matter of hours. By evening, after India halted the release, levels dropped sharply to just 8.5 feet — a dramatic swing that underscores the danger such sudden discharges pose to anyone near the water. SDMA and district authorities issued fresh advisories urging residents to stay away from the Jhelum, its tributary streams and rainwater channels whenever flow levels change rapidly. The incident has reignited calls from civil society for formal notification protocols with India before any major dam release that affects downstream communities in Pakistan. [1]
🗳️ Minister Kayani Visits Jhelum to Review PM's Fuel Relief Scheme, Orders More Registration Camps
Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani made a field visit to Jhelum on September 23, 2026, personally inspecting registration camps set up at petrol pumps across the district as part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's Fuel Relief Scheme. The scheme provides subsidised petrol to owners of motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqi rickshaws and vehicles with engine capacity up to 800cc — a lifeline for low- and middle-income commuters who rely on two-wheelers and small vehicles for daily livelihoods. Kayani observed the token-issuance process, under which eligible citizens register by sending an SMS to 9771 and then collect fuel-relief tokens at designated pumps. In a gesture aimed at public outreach, the minister personally assisted residents with the registration procedure and filled petrol in beneficiaries' motorcycles after tokens were issued. Kayani also directed the district administration to expand the camp network by setting up additional registration counters outside the DHQ Hospital and government colleges in Jhelum — locations that draw large daily footfall from students, medical visitors and staff. The move is designed to reach citizens who may not frequent petrol stations but who still qualify for the subsidy. The Fuel Relief Scheme has been one of the coalition government's flagship responses to rising petroleum prices, and Jhelum's inclusion signals the programme's reach into Punjab's smaller cities. [6]
🎓 Lala Lajpat Rai Library, 90 Years Old, Reopens with 4,000 Books and a New Computer Lab After Four-Month Restoration
Jhelum's historic Lala Lajpat Rai Library — nearly 90 years old and long languishing with faded paint, dim lighting and a single reading table — has been fully restored and reopened to the public following a four-month renovation drive by the district administration. The project, reportedly valued at around 36,000 USD, has transformed the space: polished wooden bookshelves now line the walls, holding close to 4,000 books, while a new computer lab gives students and researchers digital access alongside traditional reading resources. A restored reading hall completes the renewal. The impact was immediate and visible. Twenty-two-year-old regular visitor Zain-ul-Abideen told Arab News Pakistan that returning to the library after about a year, he almost did not recognise the building: 'It looked like an old building with faded paint. Now, with the new shelves, lights and books, it feels like a completely different place.' Officials described the project as a deliberate effort to revive reading culture in Jhelum, a Punjab city that has historically valued education but where public library infrastructure had fallen into disrepair. The restoration reflects a broader acknowledgment that access to books and quiet study space matters for students who cannot afford private tuition or personal libraries — a direct civic investment in the city's educational fabric. [7]
Sources: [1] The Express Tribune · [6] RADIO PAKISTAN · [7] Arab News PK