Rising waters : NDMA issues alerts as River Chenab swells

Current spell likely to subside after 24 to 36 hours

ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has said the next 12 hours are crucial as water level rises in River Chenab due to heavy to very heavy rains.

Following the rise in water levels, NDMA issued alerts to all the departments concerned to take necessary preventive measures to avoid human and property loss.

Ahmed Kamal, member NDMA said the alerts have been issued after receiving a weather advisory
from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). Warnings were issued to remain on full alert.

He said that though the chance of flood in the River Jhelum is low as there is a dam which has the large storage capacity.

“However chances of flooding in River Chenab are a bit high in next 24-36 hours. It could cause flooding in underlying areas,” he said.

Kamal further said that the westerly depression originated in India and a cold westerly wave has mixed together which has caused changes in the weather. This is causing heavy to very heavy rains.

On the other hand a weather advisory issued by the PMD has intimated that the current weather system is likely to continue, producing more rains with isolated heavy falls. The affected areas will be Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Hazara division, Gilgit- Baltistan and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.

Heavy downpours are predicted in the catchment areas of eastern rivers of Pakistan, generating flood situation in the rivers. Due to intermittent rains, there is a risk of landslides along major roads of Hazara division and Kashmir. The probability of GLOF events is also high in vulnerable valleys of District Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan during the next 24 hours.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2015.