Fresh spell of rain, thunderstorms forecast across Punjab, KP from Aug 21 to 23

The provincial governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday warned of a new spell of rain and thunderstorms in the central and northern parts of the country over the weekend, following an advisory issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

In advisories issued today, the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) of Punjab and KP said rain was forecast in most districts of the two provinces from Friday evening through Sunday.

In Punjab, heavy rain is expected in Lahore, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal and Okara, while rain is also forecast in Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Bhakkar, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan.

In KP, rain is expected in upper districts and plain areas, including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, Kohistan, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda, Nowshera, Kohat, Kurram and Hangu, the PDMA said.

The PDMA warned of a risk of urban flooding in Punjab’s Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Narowal, as well as in Mardan and Swabi in KP.

There is also a risk of landslides in Murree, Galiyat and other hilly areas of Punjab, as well as in KP’s Chitral, Dir, Swat, Bar-Swat, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Kohistan and Abbottabad districts.

PDMA Punjab issues directives for district administrations

PDMA Punjab Director General Saif Anwar Jappa has directed commissioners and deputy commissioners across the province to remain alert.

“An alert has been issued to the district administrations in accordance with the Punjab chief minister’s directives,” he said.

He also said there was a risk of flash floods in rainwater drains, adding that alerts had been issued to the health, irrigation, communication and livestock departments.

The PDMA official further urged citizens to take precautionary measures and avoid staying in dilapidated or mud-built houses, whose collapse during rains contributes to a high number of fatalities.

Citizens should also protect themselves from lightning strikes and windstorms, Jappa said.

According to the PDMA, 54 people have lost their lives and 341 have been injured in rain-related incidents during the current monsoon season, while no loss of life was reported in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the authority also issued an alert after recording an increase in water flows in Punjab’s rivers due to heavy monsoon rains.

There is a moderate flood situation in the Indus River at Kalabagh.

According to a PDMA spokesperson, the inflow at Kalabagh was 425,000 cusecs, while the outflow was 416,000 cusecs. There is a low-level flood at Tarbela, Chashma and Taunsa on the Indus River. The water flow at Tarbela was 267,000 cusecs, 360,000 cusecs at Chashma and 317,000 cusecs at Taunsa.

According to the PDMA spokesperson, water flows in the Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi and Sutlej rivers are at normal levels, while flows in the rivers of Dera Ghazi Khan are also normal.

There is a high-level flood at Nala Palkho in Wazirabad, where the water discharge has been recorded at 5,800 cusecs. There is a low-level flood in Nala Basantar and Nala Aik in Narowal.

According to the PDMA, Tarbela Dam is 100 per cent full, while Mangla Dam is 72pc full.

In case of an emergency, citizens are advised to contact the PDMA helpline at 1129.

PDMA KP advises tourists to avoid travel

PDMA KP warned of a risk of damage to weak structures, electricity poles, billboards and solar panels due to strong winds and thunderstorms.

District administrations in KP have been directed to take pre-emptive measures in vulnerable areas, while continuous monitoring of rivers, streams and seasonal water channels has also been ordered.

PDMA KP has advised tourists to avoid unnecessary travel during rainfall and urged citizens to maintain a safe distance from rivers, streams and drains.

The public can contact PDMA KP through its toll-free helpline at 1700.

On Thursday, two members of a family were killed and two others injured when the roof of their house collapsed due to torrential rain in Topi tehsil of KP’s Swabi district.

Rescue 1122 said heavy rainfall caused several other buildings to collapse as flash floods hit the district.

It said at least 300 people were rescued by its workers.

Earlier this week, Punjab received widespread monsoon rains, with Rawalpindi recording the highest rainfall of 130mm, while low-level flooding persisted at three barrages on the Indus River.

The heavy rain triggered urban flooding and waterlogging in several areas, disrupting normal life.

Rawalpindi was among the worst-affected areas, with rainwater inundating two buildings and 159 people, including 150 children, being evacuated in two separate incidents without any casualties.

Flooding was also reported in parts of Lahore, Attock, Gujrat and Narowal, with residents and commuters facing difficulties as rainwater accumulated on roads and in low-lying areas.