Rains help fill water reservoirs

Met office predicts another spell of monsoon to soak parts of country this week

LAHORE:

As monsoon dumps rains, the deluge is filling up rivers and reservoirs across the country while the wet weather is predicted to further soak parts of the country later this week.

While water levels at some reservoirs, which have been soaring to alarming levels, receded to an extent, the water continued to flow at a medium-flood level.

According to the figures shared by the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD), the water level has seen a drop in the Indus River at Guddu Barrage as the river has been in medium flood at barrage with 469,900 cusecs inflow and 4,43,400 cusecs outflow.

Irrigation officials said that the water level in the river could further drop in the next 24 to 48 hours. “Indus River has been in medium flood at Sukkur Barrage with 444,000 cusecs inflow and 405,700 cusecs outflow at the barrage.”

The river has been at a low flood level at Kotri Barrage with 182,900 cusecs inflow and 144,900 cusecs outflow at the barrage,” according to the data shared by irrigation authorities.

Meanwhile, according to details shared by a spokesperson for the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), the inflow Tarbela was 218 thousand 600 cusecs whereas the outflow was recorded at 172 thousand 300 cusecs.

The water influx of water at Mangala was 52,700 cusecs and outflow was 10,000 cusecs. Similarly, the inflow of water in the Chenab River at Head Marala is 75 thousand 700 cusecs and the outflow was 54 thousand 300 cusecs.

At Nowshera, the inflow of water into the Kabul River was 49,900 cusecs and the outflow was 49,900 cusecs.

Fresh spell of rain

On the other hand, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicted another spell of rain in the upper parts of the country from August 2 due to the penetration of “monsoon currents” from the Arabian Sea.

According to PMD, a “westerly wave” was also likely to enter the country on Aug 3 (Thursday).

Under the new spell, it said rains with wind/thundershowers were expected in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Neelam valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur from the night of Aug 2 to Aug 7 with occasional gaps.

A similar forecast was issued for Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Chitral, Dir, Sheikhupura, Lahore, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, and Nowshera as well.

The PMD also predicted rains and thundershowers in Kurram, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Banni, Karak, Waziristan, Kasur, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang and Bhakkar from Aug 4 to Aug 7 with occasional gaps.

The department further warned in its advisory that the rains could cause flooding in local nullahs and streams in Kashmir, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and GB from Aug 4 to Aug 7.

“Heavy rains may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Lahore and may trigger landslides in vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, GB and K-P.”

The Met office advised travellers and tourists to remain cautious during the forecast period.