Weather woes: PDMA issues flood alerts to all districts

Met department forecasts torrential rain, heavy snow in upper, central K-P.

PESHAWAR: Amid forecasts of more torrential rain and heavy snowfall, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued alerts to all the district administrations of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) regarding a possible flood.

Based on weather updates received from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), instructions have been issued to all district offices of PDMA to be ready for a possible emergency situation due to torrential rain.

According to the PMD report, a westerly wave passing through the upper parts of K-P will prevail for around 24 hours causing rain and snowfall in central and upper K-P. Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, DI Khan, Mardan, Charsadda, Malakand and Hazara divisions along with parts of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas are expected to receive rain and snow.

Another westerly wave is expected to enter K-P and Fata from Friday (today) and last till Tuesday morning in upper and central K-P, causing rain, thunderstorms and snowfall on the mountains.

According to a spokesperson for PDMA, water levels in Swat River, Kalpani Nullah and Munda Headworks have increased as compared to last week. “Budni Nullah—which lies between Hayatabad and Charsadda Road—can overflow and cause damage in its surroundings due to an obstruction caused by a bridge built over it on Peshawar-Charsadda Road,” he said.

The spokesperson added PDMA has requested the district administration to take up the matter with the relevant authorities.

According to the meteorological department, eight millimetres (mm) of rain had been recorded in Peshawar on Thursday morning, while scattered light rain is expected on Friday (today).

Moreover, 18mm was recorded in DI Khan, 14.7mm in Bannu, 25.4mm in Parachinar, 13mm in Dir and five millimetres in Timergara. Three inches of snowfall was recorded in Malam Jabba and one inch in Dir and Kalam.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2015.