Punjabs Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Friday issued a high flood warning for the Indus River in Kalabagh and Chashma, after the provincial’s deadliest day in the ongoing Monsun season a day earlier, claiming at least 63 lives in the midst of widespread urban and river flooding.
Flood Forecast Division has warned that the Indus River is likely to achieve high levels of flood in Kalabagh and Chashma within the next 24 hours.
In a letter sent to the Division Commissioners in Sargodha and Dera Ghazi Khan, PDMA emphasized the need for increased emergency preparedness and instructed district administrations to coordinate closely with relevant departments for a comprehensive and quick response.
Officials have been asked to activate flooding monitoring and early warning systems, ensuring that rescue 1122 remains in high attention with search and rescue teams that are pre-set and establish relief and medical camps in safe places with adequate supply of facilities such as food, electricity, clean drinking water and sanitation.
District emergency surgery centers (DEOCs) have been instructed to operate around the clock, while medical supplies, including essential medications and treatments of waterborne diseases, must be stored in flooded areas.
Moving livestock for a safer reason and providing veterinary care has also been highlighted together with directives for proper data collection and analysis by river.
The warning came a day after record rainfall swept over parts of the province. In Rawalpindi, the heaviest rainfall of the Flash Flash Season triggered Nullah Leh, causing the district administration to declare a public holiday in an attempt to keep residents indoors and secure. Several areas of the city remained immersed as relief services struggled to tackle the river.
In Chakwal, the authorities reported an unprecedented 430 mm rain over a period of only 10 hours, resulting in widespread floods. The situation forced the district administration to declare an emergency and launch urgent relief operations when roads became rivers and rural areas were cut off.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted a further deterioration of weather conditions warning of a fresh spell with spread heavily to very heavy rain over Punjab from 20 to 25 July.
According to the counseling, monsoon streams are currently entering Sindh and the upper parts of the country and is expected to intensify over central and northern Punjab from July 20. A fresh western wave is likely to enter the top regions by July 21, which can further improve the precipitation activity.
Under påvirkning af dette vejrsystem forventes udbredt regn og vindt-thundershowers-påskrevet af spredt tunge til meget tunge fald-på tværs af en enorm strækning af Punjab, herunder Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Lahore, SheikhuPura, Sialkotrotro, Sialkotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotrotro, soujorabotro, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Okara, Kasur, Khushab, Sargodha, Bhakkar and Mianwali, from the evening of July 20 to July 25.
Southern districts such as Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffarh, Rajanpur, Rahimyar Khan, Kot Addu and Layyah are also likely to receive rainfall on the night of July 18 and 19, with another wet, which is expected between 21 and 23.
The advisory repeats a previous warning issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, who said at least four to five more magic forms are expected in the coming weeks.
During a briefing to the Prime Minister of the National Emergency Center Center (Neoc) in Islamabad, he said this year’s monsoon is 60 to 70 percent higher than last year, with regional rain on average already an average of 65 percent above normal.
He noted that although the Monsun season typically consists of eight to nine weather forms, the current cycle has already experienced two to three more. The third spell, which began on June 26, is now nearing its end.
