High Alert: Pakistan Braces for New Floods, Rains from Aug 29

ISLAMABAD-(Mudassar Iqbal)- The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has placed the country on high alert, forecasting a new spell of heavy rains from August 29 to September 2 that could trigger intensified floods, landslides, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in several regions.

According to an NDMA spokesperson, widespread thundershowers are expected across the country, particularly in Islamabad, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. The authority warned of a heightened risk of landslides and glacial lake bursts in the mountainous districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Buner, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, DI Khan, Kohat, and Bannu within the Malakand and Hazara divisions. While, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday praised the province’s Safe City Authority for using drone technology to track stranded citizens and livestock in flood-hit districts.

“Since most of the Punjab is now CCTV monitored,” wrote CM Maryam on X: “[…] thermal imaging drone technology was used to spot & track stranded citizens and livestock in many districts including Sialkot, Sargodha, Gujrat & Jhang. 800 cases were successfully coordinated. Well done Safe City Authority.”

Deputy Commissioner Wasim Hamid Sindhu said that there is a threat of a “high level” flood in Chenab and Sutlej rivers, forecasting a massive flow of approximately 800,000 cusecs in the Chenab by Saturday night.

He said that the district administration has accelerated the evacuation of citizens. Sindhu expressed these views during a detailed visit to the Bund Bosan and Shershah flood embankments.

A major flood surge is expected in the Chenab within the next two days, said DC Sindhu. He said that flood relief camps have been established where all facilities are available.

Holding a joint press conference, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Multan Waseem Hamid Sindhu and City Police Officer (CPO) Sadiq Ali Dogar said that the district administration is fully alert to mitigate the expected flood in Chenab and Sutlej rivers.

The DC revealed that around 138 villages in Multan could be affected by the water levels, and over 300,000 people were being shifted to safer areas.

“So far, more than 45,000 people have already been evacuated, and the remaining will be shifted within the next two days,” he stated.The NDMA has warned of a significant rise in water levels in the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers.

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At Trimmu Barrage, flows of 700,000–800,000 cusecs are expected by August 31, threatening Jhang and surrounding areas.
PDMA DG Irfan Kathia has said that the pressure of the Chenab River will shift to the Rewaz Railway Bridge near Jhang, terming the situation in some areas of Jhang, Chiniot and Sahiwal division sensitive.

Floodwaters are forecast to reach Panjnad by September 3, where flows may touch 650,000–700,000 cusecs. Evacuation orders issued in Hafizabad, Chiniot, Multan, Panjnad and Bahawalpur.

The Ravi River is also surging, with flows between 150,000–200,000 cusecs expected at Balloki Barrage, posing risks to low-lying areas of Lahore, Sheikhupura, and Kasur.

By September 1, a dangerous flood will reach Sadhanai, putting at risk of flooding Shahdara, Kot Mahbu, Jia Musa, Aziz Colony, Qaiser Town, Faisal Park, Dhir, Begum Kot, Faizpur, Dhameke, Daka, Burj Attari, Kot Abdul Malik in Sheikhupura, Ferozewala.
In Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur and Pattoki, the areas under threat of flood are Phoolnagar, Nathe Khalsa and Nowshera, as well as Khanewal, Ghaushpur, Mian Channu, Umeed Garh, Kot Islam, Abdul Hakeem, and Kabirwala. In Sindh, the NDMA has predicted heavy rains in Hyderabad, Dadu, Sukkur, Ghotki, Larkana, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Karachi, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin, and Tharparkar, with urban flooding likely in Karachi between August 30 and September 2.

In Balochistan, low-lying areas of Gwadar, Kech, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Lasbela, and Kalat face flood threats as low-lying areas are expected to be submerged.

So far, the Pakistan Army has been deployed in nine districts to assist in rescue and relief operations. Both NDMA and PDMA have urged residents in vulnerable areas to move to safer locations and advised tourists to avoid northern areas due to the risk of landslides and road blockages.

The PDMA DG has termed the next four to six hours crucial, putting all agencies concerned on alert. He reported that the floodwater level was stable at Shahdara, but was fast around the Ravi; these areas had been evacuated.

“All relevant agencies are on alert and monitoring the situation round the clock,” the NDMA spokesperson assured.