Correct Option
The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The Indus River is one of the major trans-Himalayan rivers. It originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu in the Tibetan region near Lake Manasarovar in the Kailash Mountain range. Its course traverses high-altitude mountain regions before descending into the plains.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Upon entering India in the Ladakh district, the Indus flows in a north-westerly direction between the Ladakh and Zaskar ranges. It continues this course through Baltistan and Gilgit before turning southwards.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The river emerges from the mountains at Attock, where it receives the Kabul River on its right bank. Karachi is a coastal city located near the river's delta, far downstream from the point where the river leaves the mountainous terrain.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The general flow of the Indus is south-westwards across the plains of Pakistan. It eventually discharges into the Arabian Sea, east of Karachi. The Bay of Bengal lies to the east of the Indian subcontinent and receives the drainage of the Ganga and Brahmaputra systems.
Key Takeaway: The Indus River flows northwest through Ladakh, Baltistan, and Gilgit, emerges from the mountains at Attock, and drains into the Arabian Sea.