ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a medium-level hydrological alert for July 29 to August 5, warning of increased flood risks as a fresh monsoon spell is expected to affect the catchments of all major rivers across Pakistan.
According to the alert, widespread rain, including isolated heavy downpours, is forecast in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh. The weather system is likely to cause a rapid rise in river flows, flash floods in hill torrents and seasonal streams, and urban flooding in vulnerable cities.
The NDMA warned that several areas in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, Punjab and Balochistan remain at high risk of flash flooding, particularly along rivers, streams and hill torrents. In Punjab, transboundary nullahs in Sialkot, Narowal, Muridke and Gujrat, as well as hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur, could experience sharp increases in water levels.
Urban flooding is also expected in major cities, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Jhelum, Chakwal, Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Multan and Sahiwal. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda and Mardan are among the vulnerable districts, while several cities in Sindh, including Hyderabad, Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Badin, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas and Tharparkar, may also face urban flooding.
The authority said river flows are expected to increase significantly during the forecast period. Medium to high flows are likely in the Chenab River and its associated Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi nullahs, while medium flows are expected upstream of the Jhelum River at Mangla. The Ravi, Kabul and their tributaries, including the Swat and Panjkora rivers, are expected to remain at low to medium flow levels.
The NDMA also warned that water levels in transboundary nullahs originating from the Pir Panjal Range could rise rapidly, while flows in the Ravi and Sutlej rivers will depend on upstream releases from Indian reservoirs. Flash flooding is also likely in the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan, streams across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and northern Balochistan, particularly in the Nari, Bolan and Lehri river systems.
The authority has advised all concerned departments to remain on high alert, monitor the evolving situation closely, and take precautionary measures to reduce the risk to lives and property during the upcoming monsoon spell.
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