Pakistan is on high alert as the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has forecast a fresh wave of heavy rains from August 29 to September 2, warning of intensified floods, landslides, and glacial lake outbursts in several regions.
Torrential rains predicted nationwide
According to the NDMA spokesperson, thundershowers are expected in Islamabad, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, with a high risk of landslides and glacial lake bursts in mountainous areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Buner, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, DI Khan, Kohat and Bannu in Malakand and Hazara divisions.
In Punjab, northern and northeastern districts, including Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Narowal, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Bhakkar, Sahiwal, and Bahawalnagar, are forecast to receive heavy rainfall between August 30 and 31, raising the risk of urban flooding.
Also Read: Punjab flood: Ravi River at Shahdara reaches dangerous 215,000 cusecs
Central and southern Punjab districts like Multan, DG Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Bhakkar, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan are also on alert for possible inundation.
Flood risk rising in major rivers
The NDMA has warned of a significant rise in water levels in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers.
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At Trimmu Barrage, flows of 700,000–800,000 cusecs are expected by August 31, threatening Jhang and surrounding areas.
PDMA DG Irfan Kathia has said that the pressure of the Chenab River will shift to the Rewaz Railway Bridge near Jhang, terming the situation in some areas of Jhang, Chiniot and Sahiwal division sensitive. -
Floodwaters are forecast to reach Panjnad by September 3, where flows may touch 650,000–700,000 cusecs. Evacuation orders issued in Hafizabad, Chiniot, Multan, Panjnad and Bahawalpur.
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The Ravi River is also surging, with flows between 150,000–200,000 cusecs expected at Balloki Barrage, posing risks to low-lying areas of Lahore, Sheikhupura, and Kasur.
- By September 1, a dangerous flood will reach Sadhanai, putting at risk of flooding Shahdara, Kot Mahbu, Jia Musa, Aziz Colony, Qaiser Town, Faisal Park, Dhir, Begum Kot, Faizpur, Dhameke, Daka, Burj Attari, Kot Abdul Malik in Sheikhupura, Ferozewala.
In Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur and Pattoki, the areas under threat of flood are Phoolnagar, Nathe Khalsa and Nowshera, as well as Khanewal, Ghaushpur, Mian Channu, Umeed Garh, Kot Islam, Abdul Hakeem, and Kabirwala.
Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) chief Irfan Ali Kathia said during a press briefing in Lahore that this is the highest flood in four decades, adding that 17 people have already died and more than 1,600 villages have been submerged.
Also Read: Punjab flood: Mass evacuations, as rising river levels threaten cities
Urban flooding in Sindh, coastal Balochistan
In Sindh, the NDMA has predicted heavy rains in Hyderabad, Dadu, Sukkur, Ghotki, Larkana, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Karachi, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, and Tharparkar, with urban flooding likely in Karachi between August 30 and September 2.
In Balochistan, low-lying areas of Gwadar, Kech, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Lasbela, and Kalat face flood threats as low-lying areas are expected to be submerged.
Authorities on high alert
So far, the Pakistan Army has been deployed in nine districts to assist in rescue and relief operations. Both NDMA and PDMA have urged residents in vulnerable areas to move to safer locations and advised tourists to avoid northern areas due to the risk of landslides and road blockages.
Also Read: Rivers Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej face extraordinary flooding; NDMA issues high alert
The PDMA DG has termed the next four to six hours crucial, putting all agencies concerned on alert. He reported that the floodwater level was stable at Shahdara, but was fast around the Ravi; these areas had been evacuated.
“All relevant agencies are on alert and monitoring the situation round the clock,” the NDMA spokesperson assured.
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