By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is confronting a “dual threat” of urban flooding and flash floods as another spell of heavy rain and thunderstorms looms, according to the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicts that the weather system, expected to begin on Monday, will affect numerous regions, including parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The PMD’s detailed national forecast indicates that while most districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will remain hot and humid, scattered rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds are expected in areas such as Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Kurram, and Waziristan.
In Punjab, southern urban centers like Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, and Dera Ghazi Khan are forecast to receive rain and thunderstorms, with the weather system potentially reaching Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, and Lahore later at night. Similarly, Islamabad may also experience rain and thunderstorms during the night.
In Sindh, where moderate to heavy rain has already been reported in some areas, further precipitation is expected in Mirpurkhas, Mithi, Tharparkar, Badin, Sujawal, Umerkot, Chhachhro, Padidan, Khairpur, Karachi, Thatta, Ghotki, Chhor, Sukkur, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Larkana, Naushahro Feroze, Sanghar, Dadu, Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Matiari, and Shaheed Benazirabad. The PMD notes that heavy downpours are likely in some of these areas.
While most of Balochistan will remain hot and humid, rain and thunderstorms are predicted for Barkhan, Sibi, Kohlu, Musakhel, Killa Saifullah, Loralai, Dera Bugti, Nasirabad, Zhob, Kalat, Khuzdar, Awaran, and Lasbela.
Partly cloudy weather with rain and thunderstorms is also expected in Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, with heavy rainfall likely at isolated places in Kashmir.
Compounding these concerns, the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) has issued an alert stating that “moderate to strong monsoon activity is likely to start” over the upper catchments of the Chenab and Jhelum rivers after 36 hours.
The FFD specifically predicts medium to high-level flows in these rivers, along with their associated nullahs and those of the Ravi river, from July 22 to 24. The potential for further casualties is underscored by recent data from the PDMA, which reports 135 fatalities and 478 injuries across Punjab from monsoon-related incidents this year. These include 99 deaths from building collapses, 19 from drowning, 12 from electrocution, and five from lightning strikes.
In response to the forecast, PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia has directed all district administrations to remain on high alert. “We are facing dual threats of urban flooding in cities and flash floods in riverine areas,” Kathia warned, emphasizing that heavy precipitation in upper catchment areas could lead to dangerous water level rises in the Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus rivers between July 22 and 24.
To mitigate the impact on affected families, the Punjab government has activated its compensation policy, providing financial assistance ranging from 1 million to 5 million Pakistani rupees to the families of those who have lost loved ones.
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