PMD warns of another wet spell from July 29

PDMA directs Punjab district administrations to remain on high alert

LAHORE/ KARACHI:

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast scattered rain, wind and

thunderstorms across several parts of the country over the next 24 hours, warning of possible hill torrents as well as urban flooding.

Although the PMD said no flood-generating rainfall is expected before July 28, it forecast a fresh and more widespread monsoon spell from July 29 over the upper catchments of major rivers, Islamabad, upper Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).

The Flood Forecasting Division said the overall river situation remained under control despite elevated flows in parts of the Chenab and Ravi rivers. The Chenab at Marala and the Ravi at Balloki were flowing at high levels, while the Indus at Tarbela, the Kabul River at Nowshera and the Jhelum at Mangla remained at low flood levels.

The division said the Chenab at Marala and the Ravi at Balloki could rise to low-to-medium flood levels during the next 24 hours, while Sidhnai on the Ravi remained the closest station to a higher warning threshold. The Indus at Kalabagh, Chashma, Taunsa and Guddu is expected to remain at low flood level over the next 48 hours.

Rain is expected to continue in Lahore and several other districts until July 27. During the past 24 hours, Noorpur Thal recorded the highest rainfall at 115 millimetres, followed by Gujranwala with 107 millimetres and Gujrat with 94 millimetres. Lahore has received a cumulative 450 millimetres of rainfall over the past five days.

PDMA Punjab Director General Umar Abbas Mela directed the district administrations to remain on high alert, warning of urban flooding, flash floods in low-lying streams and landslides in the Murree hills.

Deputy commissioners have also been instructed to enforce Section 144 around rivers and streams, while compensation of Rs1 million to Rs5 million will be provided to families of victims under the provincial policy.

In Sindh, the PMD forecast mostly cloudy, hot and humid conditions in Karachi, with light rain and drizzle expected at isolated locations over the next two days. Moderate to heavy rainfall is likely in several districts of interior Sindh, including Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin and Sanghar.

The Met Office warned that strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea continued to influence southern and central Pakistan, increasing the risk of urban flooding and damage to vulnerable structures due to strong winds and lightning.