Fresh rainfall keeps flood threat alive

PMD forecasts another 24-48 hours of rain

LAHORE:

Monsoon rains continued to batter large parts of Pakistan on Tuesday, prompting fresh flood alerts, swelling flows across parts of the Indus basin and putting disaster management authorities on high alert as another spell of rain is forecast over the next 24 to 48 hours.

The Pakistan Meteorolo-gical Department (PMD) said weak monsoon currents were penetrating the country's upper and eastern regions, while a westerly wave continued to influence northwestern areas.

Humid conditions are expected to prevail across most parts of the country, with rain and thunderstorms likely in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and upper Punjab through Wednesday.

The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) said the Indus River remained in low flood at Kalabagh and Chashma, while all other major rivers were flowing within normal limits or below the low-flood threshold.

No significant change in the overall hydrological situation is expected over the next 24 hours, although scattered rainfall is forecast across the upper catchments of the major rivers.

However, concerns have mounted over the Chenab River after India released additional water from the Baglihar Dam following heavy rainfall in the river's upper catchment.

According to available information, three spillways were opened on Monday afternoon after two had already been opened three days earlier, resulting in increased downstream flows.

The FFD has issued a low-to-medium flood alert for Head Marala over the next 24 hours. At the latest observation, inflows at Head Marala stood at 93,900 cusecs, while outflows measured 76,200 cusecs.

The FFD's quantitative forecast projects inflows of between 80,000 and 100,000 cusecs during the next 24 hours, with the river expected to remain in the low-flood category.

Elsewhere, the PMD reported isolated heavy rainfall across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the past 24 hours.

Saidu Sharif received 86mm of rain, Kakul 71mm and Faisalabad 77mm under the PMD network, while Sibbi recorded the country's highest maximum temperature at 44°C.

Meanwhile, the FFD's rainfall monitoring network recorded exceptionally heavy downpours in parts of Faisalabad, including 126mm at Ghulam Muhammad Abad Water Works and 123mm at the WASA Head Office, along with significant rainfall in Lahore, Sialkot and Gujrat.

Punjab's Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said monsoon showers were recorded across most districts during the past 24 hours and credited advance planning and the pre-positioning of machinery for enabling the rapid drainage of urban areas despite heavy rainfall.

The authority said the current monsoon spell is expected to continue until August 5 and warned that further rainfall in the upper catchments could increase flows in the eastern rivers and adjoining nullahs.

Urban flooding remains possible in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Multan, while landslides remain a concern in Murree, Galliyat and other mountainous areas.

The PDMA also said flood relief camps had been established in vulnerable districts and urged residents living in riverbeds to relocate to safer areas.

Citizens were advised to avoid unnecessary travel, stay away from rivers, canals and low-lying areas.