Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued fresh warnings as a powerful monsoon system continues to strengthen, bringing the risk of flash flooding, landslide and urbanundation to major cities and vulnerable hilly regions.
The alarm, which was issued on Tuesday morning, ranges from the northern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to southern Punjab and Balochistan. It remains in effect through July 17th.
“Tongue to very heavy rainfall could trigger flooding of flash in nullah’s and streams, especially in chitral, dir, swat, murree, kohistan and rawal pindi,” said prognosis officer Dawood Khan.
Authorities have marked the risk of landslide in mountainous regions such as Murree, Galliyat and Gilgit-Baltistan.
PMD also warned of possible urban floods in cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan.
Officials reported on Monday that thunderstorms and strong winds had caused at least nine deaths and 62 injuries to Punjab, while six fatalities were registered in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Strong winds associated with the storm system can damage trees, electric poles, vehicles, solar panels and standing crops, which receives calls for public caution.
The current spell with heavy rain is driven by a low -pressure system over the northeastern rajasthan, with strong monsoon streams pushing into Pakistan’s central and upper regions.
A Western wave also affects the upper parts of the country.
During the last 24 hours, Okara registered the highest rainfall at 95 mm, followed by Hyderabad with 94 mm.
Other areas that experienced significant rainy weather included Islamabad, Sahiwal, DG Khan and Lahore.
Temperatures remained high in parts of SINDH, where Turbat reached 44 ° C, and Hyderabad and Nawabshah registered 41 ° C under humid conditions.
Rain and thunderstorms are expected across Punjab, KP, Balochistan and Sindh even expected scattered heavy falls, especially in urban areas.
A prior weather alarm issued by MET Office on July 14 had predicted widespread torrent rain with wind-thunder showers from July 15 to 17.
It noted that a low pressure system over northwestern Madhya Pradesh in India was likely to affect Pakistan’s weather patterns in the following 72 hours.
The counseling had outlined expected rainfall over almost all provinces. In Gilgit-Baltistan, heavy rain was expected in Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, Rawalakot, Astore, Skardu, Hunza and the surrounding regions.
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, extremely heavy rain was predicted in SWAT, Kohistan, Charsadda, Peshawar, Bannu and the tribal districts of flash flooding and landslides.
Upper and southern Punjab, including cities such as Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Rawalpindi, were placed on duty. Central and Southern Balochistan – Quetta, Lasbela, Khuzdar, Barkhan and Dera Bugti – was also expected to receive heavy rain from 14 to 16 July.
In Sindh there was expected rainfall for Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpur Khas and Jacobabad, with light showers predicted in Karachi.
The July 14th advisory highlighted impact risks, including flooding of flash in hilly streams, landslides that block roads, urban floods in major cities, and damage to weak structures such as Kacha houses, advertising boards and standing crops in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Tourists, farmers and travelers were asked to avoid vulnerable areas and stay aware of changing weather conditions.
All civil and provincial authorities were asked to remain on high alarm and to implement precautions to minimize damage and protect life and property.
