Himalayan River System: Indus Water System

Basics

• Other Name: The Indus River is also called the Sindhu.
• Basin Countries: China(Tibet), India and Pakistan.
• Origin: It originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu in the Tibetan region in the Kailash Mountain range near the Mansarovar Lake.
• Mouth: In Sindh Province, the river accumulates a lot of sediments and forms the Indus River delta before draining into the Arabian Sea near Karachi.
• Major Species: The blind Indus River Dolphin, a sub-species of dolphin, is found only in the Indus River.
• Tributaries are
  • Left Bank Tributaries: Zaskar, Suru, Soan, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Satluj, and Panjnad rivers.
  • Right-Bank Tributaries: Shyok, Gilgit, Hunza, Swat, Kunnar, Kurram, Gomal, and Kabul rivers.

Tributaries in Himalayas

1. Shyok River
   • Rising from the Karakoram Range at Rimo glacier.
   • The river widens at the confluence with the Nubra River.
2. Nubra River
   • It is the main tributary of the Shyok River.
   • It originates from the Nubra Glacier.
3. Shigar River
   • It rises from the Hispar Glacier.
   • It joins Indus at Skardu.
4. Hunza River
   • It is an important left-bank tributary of the Gilgit River.
   • It rises from a glacier north of the Karakoram Range in the northwestern part of Jammu and Kashmir.

Tributaries in Plain

1. Chenab River
   • Origin: The Chenab originates from near the Bara Lacha Pass in the Lahul-Spiti part of the Zaskar Range.
   • Formation: Chenab river is formed by the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers at Tandi located in the upper Himalayas in the Lahul and Spiti District of Himachal Pradesh
   • Passing Region: It flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of Punjab in Pakistan
   • Fact
     • The waters of the Chenab are allocated to Pakistan under the terms of the Indus Water Treaty
     • The river is crossed in Jammu and Kashmir by the world’s highest railway bridge named Chenab Bridge.
2. Jhelum River
   • Associated River:
     • It is a tributary of the Chenab River
     • It ends in a confluence with the Chenab in Pakistan.
   • Origin: The river Jhelum rises from a spring at Verinag situated at the foot of the Pir Panjal range.
   • Fact: The waters of the Jhelum are allocated to Pakistan under the terms of the Indus Water Treaty.
   • Passing Lake: It flows through the Wular lake.
   • Project: The Kishenganga River is the largest tributary of Jhelum.
     • It originates at Drass in Kargil.
     • It enters Jhelum near the Line of Control.
     • The Kishanganga project is on this river.
3. Ravi River
   • Origin: It rises west of Rohtang pass in the Kullu hills of Himachal Pradesh and flows through the Chamba valley of the state.
   • Fact: The waters of the Ravi River are allocated to India under the Indus Waters Treaty.
   • Project: The major multipurpose project built on the river is the Ranjit Sagar Dam.
4. Sutlej River
   • Origin: It rises from beyond the Indian borders on the southern slopes of the Kailash Mountain from the Rakas lake which is situated close to the Mansarovar Lake.
   • Passing State: It enters Himachal Pradesh through Shipki La and flows in the South-westerly direction.
   • Project: The world’s highest gravity dam- Bhakra Nangal Dam is built on this river.
   • Fact: The waters of the Sutlej are allocated to India under the Indus Water Treaty.
5. Beas River
   • Origin: Beas River emerges from Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh.
   • Tourism: The tourist resorts of Manali are situated on the right banks of the River Beas.