The Meteorological Department warns of urban flooding, flash floods, and landslides in several regions as Pakistan is expected to witness a fresh spell of widespread monsoon rains over the next eight days.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) have issued alerts urging citizens and authorities to take precautionary measures.
According to the Met Department, the current spell of rains will continue until July 5, with a new wave of westerly winds likely to enter the upper regions on July 6. This will trigger heavy rainfall across Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Balochistan, and Islamabad until July 10.
The Met office forecasts heavy downpours from July 5 to 10 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dir, Swat, Chitral, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Battagram, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Bajaur, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur and Peshawar.
Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir region will see rains during the same period. In Punjab province, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Murree, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Mandi Bahauddin, Faisalabad, Chakwal, Attock, Jhelum, Chiniot and Sheikhupura. Rain is also expected in South Punjab and Balochistan from July 6 to 8.
NDMA has issued urban flooding in northern and central Punjab, including Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal.
Meanwhile, PDMA Punjab has reported that while there is no unusual or severe flooding in any major river, drain or hill stream, and that they are all flowing normally, water inflow is expected to rise from July 7. Over the past 24 hours, Murree received 48mm of rain, Rawalpindi 18mm, Narowal 15mm, and Attock 14mm.