Islamabad — The Flood Forecasting Division of the Pakistan Meteorological Department has placed six major cities in Punjab on urban flood watch, warning that torrential rain over the coming days could inundate low-lying neighbourhoods.
The cities named in the alert are Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Gujrat.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority has said the heaviest rain is expected between 17 and 20 August, and that low-lying parts of Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot and Lahore are the most exposed to urban flooding during that window.
This is the sixth monsoon spell of the season and is forecast to continue, with occasional breaks, until 21 August. The Met Office has also flagged the risk of landslides in Murree, Galiyat and other hilly areas, where saturated slopes give way with little warning.
Beyond the six cities, rain with gusty winds and isolated heavy falls is expected across a wide belt that includes Murree, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, Attock, Narowal, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Sargodha, Khushab and Mianwali.
PDMA Director General Saif Anwar Jappa has directed commissioners and deputy commissioners across the province to remain on high alert for the duration of the spell.
Residents in the affected districts have been advised to avoid underpasses and low-lying roads during heavy downpours, to keep clear of electricity poles and sagging wires in standing water, and to follow instructions issued by the district administration.
Details of the alert were reported by Dawn and The Express Tribune, citing the Pakistan Meteorological Department and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority.
Representative image. Photo: Jim Gade / Unsplash.
