Islamabad: Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned of the risk of potential flooding and flash flooding in various parts of Balochistan from July 12 to July 17 in Punjab, Khyber Paktanwa (KP) and various parts of Balochistan, with at least 90 people falling with rain since late June.
In Punjab, extensive rainfall is expected between districts such as Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Lahore, Narowal, DG Khan, Rajanpur and Rahim Yaryhan.
This weather activity could result in medium-to-high flows in the rapids of DG Khan and Rajanpur, but the nullahs could be derived from the Pir Panjal Range in northeastern Punjab.
Rainfall is expected in KP's Dir, Swat, Besham, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Karak, Kohat, Kohistan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Mardan, Malakand, Charsada, Bannu, Buner, Swabi and Waziristan. This can increase the flow
Kabul River and its tributaries, Swat, Panjkola and Karpaninula. The river swats and panjkola, along with the associated streams, can swell due to rainfall in the catchment. The Kabul River in Nowshera is expected to reach low flood levels.
In Balochistan, the active weather system can cause isolated rain and thunderstorms from July 13th to July 17th in areas that may have null potential for flash, such as Quetta, Muston, Karat, Slab, Zhob, Vulcan, Musahel, Lorarai, Lorarai, Awaran, Kazdar, Kazdar, Delabugti and local streams. According to the NDMA, it will be sent from Kirthar Range.
“The authorities recommend that emergency team preparation, machine availability and clearance of drainage systems. Tourists should avoid sophisticated areas, while residents of vulnerable zones need to secure valuables, vehicles and livestock and maintain essential supplies.
“District management in Northeast Punjab and Central Punjab, in particular, needs to deploy dehydration equipment to manage flooding in cities. Citizens are urged to avoid flooded roads, low bridges and Causeways.”
The death toll from the monsoon downpour in Pakistan rose to 90 on Friday after three children died in an incident related to rain in eastern Punjab, according to the NDMA.
Punjab reported 32 deaths, followed by 30 deaths, Sindh had 16 deaths, Balochistan had 11 deaths, and Khyber Paktanwa, who had one man lost his life in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, authorities are distributing tents, ration bags, blankets, soil bags, quilts, gas cylinders, mattresses, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, plastic mats, hygiene kits, hygiene kits, and hygiene kits to affected families. Pakistan has also deployed a location-based SMS alert system to warn citizens living in flood-prone areas about the imminent weather threat.
With over 240 million people living there, Pakistan is consistently ranked among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. In 2022, record-breaking monsoon rain and glacial melting affected 33 million people and caused a devastating flood that killed more than 1,700 people.
