Balochistan on alert as monsoon rains threaten 17 districts
A boy wades through a flooded street with submerged vehicles during the monsoon rain, as the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Karachi, Pakistan August 25, 2020. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a weather alert on Tuesday, predicting heavy monsoon rains in Balochistan from July 17 to 19.
The provincial met office has urged local administrations to remain vigilant as it forecasts a new spell of monsoon rains affecting 17 districts across the province.
Heavy rainfall is expected in Khuzdar, Kalat, Lasbela, Ziarat, Awaran, Zhob, Barkhan, and Hub. Additional areas likely to experience rainfall include Kohlu, Musa Khel, Loralai, Duki, Harnai, Nasirabad, Jafarabad, and Sohbatpur.
The rains, spanning from July 17 to 19, pose a risk of damaging standing crops, solar panels, and mud houses. There is also a threat of flooding in rivers and streams.
PDMA has instructed all district administrations to stay alert.
The authority has also advised tourists and travellers to take precautionary measures to avoid any unpleasant situations. Relief materials have been dispatched to all districts in anticipation of potential emergencies.
Yesterday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) announced that the country is set to experience more rain in various regions throughout the week
The Met Office said that monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea are expected to enter most parts of the country starting July 16.
Rain accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms is forecast for Islamabad and several areas in Punjab starting from July 17 to July 20.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) is likely to see rain with strong winds and thunderstorms from July 16 to 21. In Balochistan, rain with dust storms is expected from July 17 to 19, while similar conditions are anticipated in Sindh on 18 and 19 of July.