The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Sunday said more rains w ere expected in different parts of Punjab from July 23 to July 29 due to which there would be further swelling of rivers. It said rains had been forecast for Lahore, Gujranwala, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Murree, Attock, Jhelum and Chakwal. Thundershowers are also expected in Dera Ghazi Khan over the hills, it added.
The Pakistan Metrological Department alerted: “There is a risk of landslides in the hilly areas of Murree, Gulliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. During the period of 23rd to 26th July, due to heavy rain, the rivers and canals in Kashmir, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Bunir, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, while on 23rd July, Dera Ghazi Khan and the areas of north-eastern and southern Balochistan including (Quetta, Zhob, Qila Saifullah, Ziarat, Barkhan, Kohlu, Shirani, Harnai, Bolan, Lural) Ai, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Kech, Turbat, Panjgur, Awaran, Pasni, Ormara, Gwadar and surrounding areas) are prone to flooding.
“During 23rd to 24th July, due to heavy rain, water may accumulate in the low lying areas of Sindh (Tharparkar, Umarkot, Mirpur Khas, Sanghar, Khairpur, Kashmore, Ghotki, Nowshehro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, Matiari, Hyderabad, Tando Allah Yar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin, Thatta, Sajawal, Karachi and Hyderabad.”
The PDMA said that water levels in different rivers of Punjab were rising, and these would go up further in River Chenab, River Jhelum and River Ravi in the next 48 hours due to which these rivers would be in medium to high flood. The PDMA said due to persistent rains water levels in Indian dams too were dangerously high.
It urged district administrations all over the province to remain on their toes and prepared to deal with any emergency. Water level in River Indus rises on the other hand, water level in River Indus at Taunsa Barrage went up further due to which the river was in low flood.—INP
