ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued advisory alerts to authorities concerned to take preventive measures over widespread rains predicted next week.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast widespread rains and thunderstorms across
the country during
the coming week.
Spokesman of Met Office in
formed that monsoon currents are
expected to penetrate in upper parts of Pakistan from Sunday/Monday that will grip most parts of
the country during the mid week. A westerly wave is also
expected to grip upper parts of
the country during the mid week.
In Punjab and Kashmir, rain and thunderstorms with isolated heavy to very heavy falls is
expected at a number of places in Islamabad, Upper Punjab (R
awalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore and Faisalabad divisions), and Kashmir during Monday to Thursday.
Rain and thunderstorms with isolated heavy falls are also
expected at scattered places in southern Punjab (D.G. Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur and Sahiwal divisions) during Tuesday to Thursday.
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan region, rain and thunderstorms with isolated heavy falls is
expected at scattered places fromTuesday to Thursday.
In Sindh and Balochistan, rain and thunderstorm with moderate to heavy falls
expected at scattered places in Sindh and eastern Balochistan (Zhob, Sibbi, Naseerabad and Kalat divisions) from Friday to Sunday.
The spokesman further in
formed heavy rainfall may generate urban flooding and flash floods in vulnerable areas particularly in rainwater drains of parts of Punjab, KP and Azad Kashmir.
The intermittent rains also increases the risk of landslides in hilly areas of upper KP particularly Malakand, Hazara divisions, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
Therefore, the NDMA has issued alerts to the authorities concerned to stay alert and advised them to take preventive measures to avoid material and human losses.
The lead disaster management agency has suggested clearing sewerage and drainage systems in all major cities, especially in Karachi.
The NDMA has also asked the authorities in Lahore, R
awalpindi and Peshawar to evacuate neighbourhoods along drains and rivers and other water courses well ahead of the
expected downpours.
Furthermore, it states that medium to high flood is
expected in the River Chenab between July 9 and 13 at Marala and between July 11 and 13 in upstream River Jhelum at Mangala.
A medium to high flood is also
expected in catchment areas of River Ra
vi and the River Chenab, northeastern Balochistan and KP.
The recent monsoon rains have already claimed 46 lives this year across
the country. Pakistan endured at least five major floods during the last five years causing massive huge human and financial losses.
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