No chances of riverine flooding: PMD

Met office said that the next monsoon phase will begin from next week

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that there are no chances of riverine flooding in Pakistan and the ongoing spell of monsoon showers is expected to end on Friday.

According to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the recent monsoon showers took the lives of 24 people.

Meanwhile, Indus River System Authority (IRSA) remains concerned about the depleting water level in two major water reservoirs as the ongoing spell of showers did not help much in improving the critical water situation.



PMD spokesperson Khalid Mehmood Malik told The Express Tribune that the ongoing monsoon spell will end on Friday. He added that a new spell will start from next week and will continue for three to four days.

“The intensity of the new spell of showers is expected to be of lower than the recent one,” he said, adding that there will be chances of urban flooding, but not of riverine flooding.

With regard to the recent torrential rains, which impacted Lahore and adjourning areas, Malik said climate change was the reason behind the high-intensity rainfall.

On the other hand, IRSA spokesperson Khalid Rana said, “Unfortunately, there had been no good rains in the catchment areas during the recent spell, due to which there has been no notable rise in the water levels in the reservoirs.”

“Both water reservoirs are still at critical levels and we are hoping that the upcoming monsoon showers would help improve their storage situation,” he added.



The current water level in Tarbela Dam is 1,390.30 feet against its dead level of 1,386 feet, whereas the current water level in Mangla Dam is 1,122.60 feet against its dead level 1,050 feet.

Rana said that IRSA is making all-out efforts to provide the required amount of water share to the provinces in order to protect seasonal crops.

According to the latest report on monsoon released by NDMA, monsoon rains from June 20 to till date has claimed 24 lives while 53 people have been injured in various rain-related incidents.

The report said that 22 people including four children died in Punjab and two people including one child in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

It added that Nowshera is currently at low flood level while all other major rivers are flowing at normal levels.