ISLAMABAD: Flooding in the Chenab River eased from medium to low level on Sunday, while the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast a fresh spell of monsoon rains from July 29 in the upper catchments of major rivers, Islamabad, upper Punjab and northern parts of the country.
According to the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), river flows remained stable during the past 24 hours despite ongoing rainfall across the province.
The authority said the Indus River continued to experience low-level flooding at Kalabagh, Chashma and Taunsa, with water flows recorded at 334,000 cusecs, 370,000 cusecs, and 313,000 cusecs, respectively.
Flood levels in the Chenab River also dropped to low level at Marala, Khanki, Qadirabad and Trimmu barrages. Water flows were recorded at 143,000 cusecs at Marala, 138,000 cusecs at Khanki, 135,000 cusecs at Qadirabad and 184,000 cusecs at Trimmu.
The Ravi River remained at low flood level at Balloki and Sidhnai, while water flow at Shahdara stayed within normal limits. River flows in the Jhelum and Sutlej also remained normal.
PDMA said Basantar Nullah in Narowal was experiencing a medium-level flood, while Phalko Nullah in Wazirabad remained in high flood with a flow of 5,000 cusecs.
The authority urged people living in flood-prone and riverine areas to move to safer locations, assuring that flood relief camps have been established with food, medicines and other essential facilities.
During the last 24 hours, the highest rainfall in Punjab was recorded in Noorpur Thal (115mm), followed by Gujranwala (107mm), Gujrat (94mm), Narowal (68mm) and Mandi Bahauddin (65mm). Lahore received 37mm of rain, bringing the city’s total rainfall over the past five days to 450mm.
PDMA said its control room and district emergency operation centres remain on high alert, warning of possible flooding in low-lying areas and landslides in hilly regions, including Murree. Citizens have been advised to contact the PDMA helpline 1129 in case of emergencies.
The authority said 29 people have died and 203 others have been injured in Punjab in monsoon-related incidents between June 25 and July 25. The provincial government has also announced financial compensation ranging from Rs1 million to Rs5 million for the families of those who lost their lives.
Meanwhile, the PMD said no major flood-producing rainfall is expected until July 28, but a new monsoon system is likely to affect the upper catchments of all major rivers from July 29.
The department has forecast rain and thunderstorms over the next few days in Islamabad, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, parts of Sindh and Balochistan. It also said the Indus River at Kalabagh, Chashma, Taunsa and Guddu is expected to remain at low flood level over the next 48 hours.
For Karachi, the PMD has forecast cloudy and humid weather with light rain or drizzle and a chance of thunderstorms on the city’s outskirts, with similar conditions expected to continue through Monday and Tuesday.
Also Read: Chinese Scientists Achieve Breakthrough in Hybrid Rice Cloning to Boost Global Food Security
