Punjab steps up monsoon preparedness as authorities issue flood and safety alerts

Authorities across Punjab and northern areas have intensified preparations ahead of the monsoon season, with emergency plans finalised in Lahore, restrictions imposed at hazardous water sites in Murree and fresh warnings issued over glacier melt-related hazards in Gilgit-Baltistan.

A meeting chaired by Lahore Deputy Commissioner Captain (retd) Muhammad Ali Ejaz reviewed arrangements to deal with potential urban and riverine flooding during the upcoming monsoon season. Senior officials from the district administration, Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL), Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA), Rescue 1122, the Irrigation Department and other relevant agencies attended the meeting.

Officials reviewed contingency plans for possible flooding and discussed the status of protective embankments, drainage infrastructure and emergency response measures. The Irrigation Department and RUDA briefed participants on flood protection embankments, while WASA and MCL outlined ongoing drain-cleaning and water drainage operations.

WASA informed the meeting that 617 dewatering sets and 134 disposal stations were fully operational. MCL also presented a plan to keep 70 dewatering sets on high alert across the city's nine administrative zones.

Rescue 1122 presented its water rescue and emergency response plan, while Civil Defence said 139 trained volunteers were ready to respond to any emergency.

The district administration said continuous monitoring was underway along 38.95 miles of protective embankments in riverine areas. Safety arrangements have also been completed for 35 settlements located along the Ravi River.

Authorities have earmarked 65 relief camps to provide immediate assistance to residents of any affected areas.

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The deputy commissioner directed all departments to complete precautionary and administrative measures before the onset of monsoon rains. He also instructed the District Emergency Control Room to remain operational round the clock and emphasised close coordination among all agencies.

Separately, the Murree district administration imposed Section 144 at hazardous water locations to prevent drowning incidents. A notification banned swimming, bathing and recreational activities at waterfalls, dams, streams and other dangerous water bodies.

Public access has been restricted at Bansra Waterfall, Bansra Dam, Samli Dam and other identified locations. The administration said stricter safety measures had been introduced following recent rainfall and a series of drowning incidents in which three young men lost their lives at different locations within a week.

Under Section 144, gatherings and water-based recreational activities have been prohibited for 30 days from June 6. Authorities warned that legal action would be taken against violators and urged tourists and residents to stay away from hazardous water sites.

The government has also advised people not to reside in dilapidated or structurally unsafe buildings during the monsoon season, warning that such structures could pose serious risks to human life during heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued an alert for Hispar village in Nagar district, where glacier melt has triggered riverbank erosion and landslides. According to the alert, rising water levels linked to accelerated glacier melt have disrupted access beyond Nagar's main chowk area.

The NDMA said increasing temperatures have accelerated glacier melt in G-B. Water flow and river levels continue to rise due to melting at the Hispar-Hopper glacier system, raising concerns about further erosion and landslides in vulnerable areas.

According to the latest weather outlook, mainly hot and dry conditions are expected across most districts of Punjab on Sunday, with very hot weather likely in the southern parts of the province. Kashmir is expected to remain partly cloudy, while isolated rain and gusty winds affected parts of central Punjab and Kashmir during the past 24 hours.