The Indus System

The Indus, also called the Sindhu, is the westernmost of the Himalayan rivers in India. It is one of the largest river basins in the world, draining an area of 11,65,000 square kilometres, of which 321,289 square kilometres lies in India. Its total length is 2,880 kilometres, with 1,114 kilometres flowing through Indian territory.

The river originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu, at 31°15′ N latitude and 81°40′ E longitude, in the Tibetan region at an altitude of 4,164 metres in the Kailash mountain range. In Tibet it is known as ‘Singi Khamban’, or Lion’s mouth. From its source, it flows in a northwest direction between the Ladakh and Zaskar ranges, passing through Ladakh and Baltistan. It cuts across the Ladakh range, forming a spectacular gorge near Gilgit in Ladakh, and enters Pakistan near Chilas in the Dardistan region.

The Indus receives a number of Himalayan tributaries, including the Shyok, the Gilgit, the Zaskar, the Hunza, the Nubra, the Shigar, the Gasting and the Dras. It finally emerges out of the hills near Attock, where it receives the Kabul river on its right bank. Other important tributaries joining the right bank are the Khurram, the Tochi, the Gomal, the Viboa and the Sangar, all of which originate in the Sulaiman ranges.

The river then flows southward and receives the Panjnad a little above Mithankot. The Panjnad is the name given to the five rivers of Punjab — the Satluj, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and the Jhelum. The Indus finally discharges into the Arabian Sea, east of Karachi. Within India, the Indus flows through the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.

The Jhelum, an important tributary, rises from a spring at Verinag, situated at the foot of the Pir Panjal in the south-eastern part of the valley of Kashmir. It flows through Srinagar and the Wular lake before entering Pakistan through a deep narrow gorge, and joins the Chenab near Jhang in Pakistan.

The Chenab is the largest tributary of the Indus. It is formed by two streams, the Chandra and the Bhaga, which join at Tandi near Keylong in Himachal Pradesh; hence it is also known as Chandrabhaga. The river flows for 1,180 kilometres before entering Pakistan.

The Ravi rises west of the Rohtang pass in the Kullu hills of Himachal Pradesh and flows through the Chamba valley of the state. Before entering Pakistan and joining the Chenab near Sarai Sidhu, it drains the area lying between the southeastern part of the Pir Panjal and the Dhauladhar ranges. …