ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday forecast heavy monsoon rains in the upper catchments of major rivers over the next 48 hours, while Punjab’s disaster management authority warned of possible urban flooding in several cities.
The PMD said the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala is expected to rise to low flood levels during the period, while the Chenab at Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad, along with the nullahs of the Ravi, could reach medium to high flows in the next 24 hours.
Scattered thunderstorms and rain of moderate intensity with isolated heavy downpours are likely over the upper catchments of the Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum rivers, as well as Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, Zhob and DG Khan divisions.
Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) separately issued an alert for the seventh spell of the monsoon from Aug. 13-15, predicting heavy rains in most districts, particularly Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, and DG Khan.
“There is a risk of urban flooding in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Sialkot, as well as flash flooding in riverside nullahs due to heavy rains,” PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said in an alert, adding that possible landslides in Murree and Galiyat and damage to vulnerable buildings could not be ruled out.
