The Gomal River is located in Afghanistan and Pakistan. More specifically, this river is situated in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the region called South Waziristan Agency. Early mention of this river is in the Rigveda, where it can be recognized as Gomati (full of water). This river has lent its name to the Gomal University in Dera Ismail Khan and the Gomal District in Paktika Province of Afghanistan and a street in E-7 in Islamabad, which is called the Gomal Road. The Gomal Pass, which is located in the middle of the Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, has also derived its name from the Gomal River.
Geography of Gomal River
Globally, the Gomal River can be pinpointed at coordinates 31 degrees 36 minutes 53 seconds north and 70 degrees 50 minutes 46 seconds east. This river has a length of about 400 km (249 mi).
Course of Gomal River
The source of the Gomal River is Katawaz Region, while its mouth is the Indus River. The headwaters of the Gomal River are located south-east of Ghazni. Springs are known to form the headwaters of the main branch of the Gomal. This spring emerges above the fort at Babakarkol in Katawaz, a district inhabited by Ghilzai Pashtuns from the Kharoti and Suleiman Khel clans in Paktika Province. This river also has another branch, which is known by the name of Second Gomal. This branch joins the main channel about 14 miles below its source. Through eastern Ghilzai, the course of the Gomal is southeast. This flow of the river continues for approximately 110 miles. The river then merges with the Zhob River, near Khajuri Kach. The Zhob acts as a major tributary of the Gomal. The gomal then heads towards the Indus River. It covers a distance of about 100 miles from the Zhob River to reach its destination, Indus River.
The Gomal River in Pakistan is known to surround the South Waziristan Agency and also forms the boundary between Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. From South Waziristan, this river heads further towards the Gomal Valley, at a place known as Girdavi, Murtuza, which is located in the district of Tank in Pakistan. In the Gomal Valley, the water of Gomal is used for the cultivation of lands through Zam System (Rod Kohi). The river then sets itself to pass through the Damaan plain in Kulachi Tehsil and later on through Dera Ismail Khan Tehsil. It then heads towards the Indus River, 20 miles south of Dera Ismail Khan.
Tributaries of Gomal River
The Gomal River has tributaries on its left as well as right. Wana Khwar is the left tributary of Gomal River, whereas Zhob River is its right tributary. The Zhob River is located in the region of Balochistan in Pakistan.
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