Punjab braces for thunderstorms and heavy rains

PDMA has set up a control room where changing weather patterns are being monitored round the clock

LAHORE: As monsoons continue with all their might across Punjab, the meteorological office has forecast isolated thunderstorms over upper catchments of River Jehlum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej. Bahawalpur, Lahore, Gujranwala and and Rawalpindi divisions will also be lashed with rain in the next 24 hours.

Chief Meteorologist Muhammad Riaz revealed this during a cabinet committee meeting on floods held on Friday. The meeting was held to review arrangements by different provincial departments to tackle any flood-like situation.

Riaz informed the meeting that widespread thunderstorms, along with scattered heavy rains and one or two very heavy falls, were expected over Southern and South Eastern Punjab.

“Scattered thunderstorms, with isolated moderate to heavy falls, are expected over the upper catchment of River Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej along with Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, and Faisalabad divisions from July 16,” he added.



Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Mudassar Waheed Malik, while speaking on the occasion, said the authority has set up a control room where changing weather patterns were being monitored round the clock. He said PDMA has directed all deputy commissioners to take necessary precautionary measures in low-lying/vulnerable areas to avoid any loss of life or damages to public and private property.

Minister for Planning and Development Malik Nadeem Kamran, who chaired the meeting, directed all the municipal committees, municipal corporations and WASA employees to remain fully vigilant and alert in the wake of any possible floods and also to maintain close and continuous liaison with each other.

The Punjab chief secretary directed all the departments to complete preparations to cope with possible floods and more monsoon rains. He ordered the deputy commissioners to personally visit embankments and identify the areas vulnerable to floods.



He urged special measures should be taken for dilapidated buildings and draining rainwater from low-lying areas. He ordered that the de-silting of drains and nullahs be carried out and all the machinery be kept operational for draining rainwater during the monsoon season. He also issued instructions regarding removal of debris from sites of development projects.

The chief secretary directed secretary housing to conduct inspections of de-watering sets and other equipment in districts. Provincial Minister for Disaster Management Mehr Ijaz Achlana, secretaries of provincial departments and other officials of departments concerned attended the meeting at the Civil Secretariat.

The deputy commissioners and other officials participated in the meeting from their respective districts via video link.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2017.