Water level at Sutlej likely to go down

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Sunday said the River Sutlej at the Sulemanki point was at moderate flood stage and was expected to fall back. All other major rivers in the country were not even at minor flood stage, it added.

In its latest update, the PMD’s Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) noted that Saturday’s trough of westerly waves over the northern parts of the country stayed put.

“Moderate moist currents from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are penetrating ... [the] upper parts of the country up to 5,000 feet,” the update read. It added that a monsoon low had developed in the north of the Bay of Bengal and its adjoining area.

The FFD predicted scattered wind thunderstorms and rains of moderate intensity with isolated heavy downpours in the upper catchments of all major rivers.

It said similar weather conditions were expected in Islamabad, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur divisions.

The FFD predicted isolated wind thunderstorms and rain in Balochistan’s Zhob, Loralai, Sibi, Nasirabad and Kalat divisions. In a statement, Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said the weather in the majority of the province’s southern districts would remain hot and humid on Sunday and Monday (today).

It said thunderstorms were expected in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum and Mandi Bahauddin. The PDMA predicted rainfall in Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Hafizabad, and Kasur as well.

It added that rainfall with strong winds and thunderstorms were expected in Sheikhupura, Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar, Faisalabad and Okara. The PDMA advised citizens to avoid swimming in rivers and canals during rainfall and to stay away from wires, power poles and electrical appliances.

The authority instructed all institutions and district administrations to make arrangements to ensure “proper” drainage. In a related development, the state-run Radio Pakistan shared a video showing the Pakistan Army providing assistance to the people affected by the floods in Bahawalnagar and its adjoining areas.

(With input from agencies)