Incessant rains create flood-like situation in rivers

Rains continued in different parts of the country on Monday, affecting daily life in many areas and creating a flood-like situation in several rivers, while the Met Department forecast more rains for two more days.

According to Express News, monsoon rains continued across the country. In many areas, the rain exposed the weaknesses in the municipal systems – drainage and garbage disposal etc – causing nuisance to the people.

Most parts of Sindh were under the influence of the seventh spell of monsoon rains, according to Met officials. Mirpurkhas, Thar and Umerkot in lower Sindh had been receiving rains since last night, while the showers started in Sukkur, Ubauro, Shikarpur, Kandhkot and Panu Aqil upper Sindh in the morning.

Due to the rains, the low-lying areas were inundated, while the sewerage systems in the urban centres were blocked. In some areas, dirty water mixed with the rain water caused severe difficulties for the people.

In Johi in central Sindh, the flow of water from the Gaj river increased due to the water coming from the Khirthar mountain range. Because of the rains and subsequent flood, around 300 villages had been cut off.

In Sindh, the Met department said, 82 millimetres of rain was recorded in Chhor, 73mm in Mithi, 34mm in Mohenjo Daro, 29mm in Badin, 15mm in Thatta, 8mm in Jacobabad, 7mm in Padaidan, 6mm in Larkana and Hyderabad, 5mm in Rohri and 5mm in Sukkur.

According to the Sindh irrigation department, the water level in the Indus river was surging at the three barrages in the province after the incessant rains. It said that nine canals of the three barrages had been closed due to heavy rainfall.

Sukkur barrage has seven off-taking canals, out of which three – Dadu Canal, Rice Canal and Kirthar Canal – are situated on the right bank, and four – Khairpur Feeder West, Rohri Canal, Khairpur Feeder East and Nara Canal – are on the left bank of the Indus.

According to the irrigation department, five off-taking canals of the Sukkur barrage and two off-taking canals of the Guddu and the Kotri barrages had been closed due to likely breaches in canals because of the rising water level.

Punjab

Intermittent rain also lashed Rawalpindi and the nearby Islamabad. The highest rainfall of 50mm was recorded at Syedpur, Islamabad. The Meteorological Department said it was monitoring nullah Lei in view of the forecast of new spell of rain.

Because of the rain, the Rawal dam was filled to the brim. As a result, the dam’s spillways opened to release 6,000 cusecs of water from it. There was a risk of flooding in the Sawan River due to the water released from the dam.

On the other hand, Multan, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur areas of Punjab also received continuous rainfall for several hours. The floods in the Chenab and Jhelum rivers inundated more than 50 villages and settlements.

Railway sources said that the rains forced the cancellation of the Lahore-Karachi Karakoram Express and the Lahore-Faisalabad Shah Hussain Express services. The advised the passengers adjusted their travel plans accordingly.

More rain forecast

The Meteorological Department said on Monday that more rains were expected in most parts of the country till Wednesday. It said that heavy rains might cause urban flooding, floods in canals and landslides in the mountainous areas.

The department has alerted all agencies concerned, especially reservoir operators and water managers, to remain alert in the wake of moderate to heavy rainfall in most parts of the country from Monday till Wednesday.

According to the Met department, heavy rains with strong winds and thundershowers were expected in Tharparkar, Nangarparkar, Mirpurkhas, Islamkot, Umerkot, Sanghar, Sukkur, Larkana, Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Shaheed Benazirabad and Dadu districts of Sindh.

Rain was also expected in Lasbela, Barkhan, Musa Khel, Kalat and Khuzdar districts of Balochistan. It forecast heavy rains in Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, Khanewal, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Okara, Faisalabad, Jhang, Sargodha, Mianwali, Khushab and Toba Tek Singh, in Punjab.

The forecast said that Dir, Swat, Buner, Shangla, Kohistan, Haripur, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Charsadda, Swabi, Mardan, Kohat, Karam, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin would also receive rainfall until Wednesday.

With input from DNA and News Desk