Fuse plug operation simulation of a barrage for flood management

Flooding in central Punjab, Pakistan, particularly from the Indus and Chenab Rivers, has caused extensive damages to infrastructure, urban areas and agricultural lands, especially with seven calamitous floods those occurred between 2010 and 2017 in this area. To protect hydraulic structures and manage flood risks, fuse plugs (breaching sections) are used. This study aimed to analyse the effectiveness of fuse plug in right marginal bund of Khanki Barrage on the Chenab River for flood management between Marala and Qadirabad barrages, using the HEC-RAS 2-D model. Different flood scenarios were simulated, including high, very high, and exceptionally high flood events. Results showed that in the extreme flood event of 947,000 cusecs in September 2014, the breaching of the fuse plug affected 386.2 km2 of land, with 9,273 acres of agriculture land and 24,442 residents. The study highlights the effective floodwater passage from fuse plug to downstream, emphasising not only the safety of the structure but also the significant social and economic consequences of extreme flood events in floodplains.