Heavy rains trigger flooding in Neelum, water rising in Sutlej and Chenab,
Three die from electrocution as rain lashes Pakpattan, Landslide kills two, injures three in Swat
Islamabad/Lahopre_In view of the prevailing weather conditions, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a timely alert, warning residents of Punjab, including Lahore, about an expected spell of heavy rains from July 23 to 29.
Alongside this forecast, authorities have also expressed concerns over rising water levels in the rivers of Punjab, which may lead to medium to high-level floods.
As a result of the continuous rainfall, the water level in the Chenab and Ravi rivers of Punjab is steadily increasing. PDMA officials have warned that the water levels may rise further in the next 48 hours, posing a significant risk of medium to high-level flooding in the region.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (Met Office) has also issued alerts for several other areas. They have forecasted rain, wind, and thundershowers in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, Pothohar region, Punjab, northeast, and south Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh over the next 12 hours.
Specifically, heavy falls are expected in Kashmir, northeast Punjab, Pothohar region, Islamabad, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northeast and south Balochistan, and Sindh during the forecast period.
Mansehra and its surrounding areas have been experiencing intermittent rainfall. As a result of the persistent downpours, the rivers in Kaghan Valley and Siran Valley are swelling, raising concerns about potential floods in these regions.
The situation is equally challenging in Neelam Valley, where intermittent rain has led to the closure of the Neelam highway. Several areas, including Danjar, Luwat, and Dawarian, have been cut off from the rest of the region due to landslides and road blockages.
However, the authorities are actively engaged in restoration efforts, working tirelessly to reopen the closed roads and reconnect isolated areas
Persistent rains in the catchment areas are triggering rise in water level in Sutlej and Chenab after another monsoon system hit the region during the past three days while flooding in Neelum River has wreaked havoc in the region.
Northern India – including Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and New Delhi have already received record-breaking rains, resulting in massive flooding in Yamuna River.
Similarly, parts of eastern and northern Punjab, especially Lahore and surrounding areas, are witnessing extreme weather events this season amid the continuous global warming threat as the world is grappling with the immediate effects of El Nino which is causing draught, extreme heat waves, heavy rains and flooding in different parts of the globe.
As far as Sutlej is concerned, water level at Ganda Singh Wala – a village located near the Pak-India border – has again risen by 20 feet, again inundating the settlements which were recently affected by the overflowing river.
The deluge in the eastern river had earlier caused devastation in parts of Okara and Bahawalnagar, as it swept way riverbanks at three spots while the water level is again rising in the downstream areas – south of Ganda Singh Wala.
Meanwhile, the rains in Kashmir are also causing a rise in water level of Chenab as the administration decided to shift the people from low-lying areas along the river path.
More Rains Predicted
According to the Met office, more heavy rains are expected from July 23 to 26 during Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala and Lahore may experience urban flooding while landslides would remain a threat in the mountainous areas of Murree in Punjab and of Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
At the same time, it also warned about the possibility of flash flooding in Kashmir, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Rawalpindi/Islamabad.
On the other hand, hill torrent of Dera Ghazi Khan and northeast and south Balochistan could experience flash flooding on July 23 and 24.
Meanwhile, water logging will remain a threat in the low lying areas of Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpur Khas, Sanghar, Khairpur, Kashmore, Ghotki, Naushehro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, Matiari, Hyderabad, Tando Allah Yar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Karachi and Hyderabad.
While,
Three people including a toddler died from electrocution in separate incidents as rain struck Pakpattan district on Sunday.
Rescue 1122 said Waqas received electric shocks while taking bath, while a two-year-old girl received shocks after she touched power cable.
Ramzan died of electrocution when he was taking bath in Arifwala.
Two people were killed as landsliding hit a house near Swat’s Madyan on Sunday, rescuers and police said.
According to the rescue officials, five people were found under the debris of the house in Bahrain that was hit by landsliding.
Two people died on the spot while three injured were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
In the meanwhile, severe flooding was observed in Chitral River and Mastuj River due to torrential rains while many houses were also washed away as a result of flash flooding.
Many restaurants were also inundated at the bank of Chitral River. The landsliding also destroyed many schools, roads, houses and crops in Ghizer district of Gilgit-Baltistan.
