Met Department Warns of Potential Flooding Due to Heavy Rains Across Pakistan

The Meteorological Department has issued warnings of potential flooding in various regions of Pakistan as heavy rains continue to lash the country. The areas most at risk include Azad Kashmir, northeast Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Koh-e-Sulaiman, and the adjacent hills of Balochistan.

Additionally, the department has cautioned about possible inundation in the low-lying areas of lower Sindh, south Punjab, Peshawar, and Karachi. Strong winds and thunder are anticipated in Islamabad and its surrounding areas, with rainfall expected in regions such as Chitral, Dir, Swat, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Peshawar, Mohmand, Kohat, and Dera Ismail Khan.

Other areas forecast for rain include Murree, Galiyat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Sargodha, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, DG Khan, Bhakkar, Multan, Khanewal, Rahim Yar Khan, Zhob, Shirani, Musakhel, Barkhan, Kohlu, Loralai, Sibbi, Harnai, Ziarat, Quetta, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Dera Bugti, Jaffarabad, Kalat, Khuzdar, Turbat, Panjgur, Karachi, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, Khairpur, Larkana, Tharparkar, Umarkot, Sanghar, Mithi, Thatta, Badin, Jamshoro, and Dadu.

Rain with strong winds and thundershowers is also expected in Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

In Lahore, recent rains have caused severe humidity, with the city’s forecast remaining cloudy. The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) reported disruptions in its delivery system across different areas, leading to power outages lasting up to 48 hours in places like Sabzazar H Block.

Heavy rainfall in Lower Dir has led to flooding in the Maidan river at Balambat in Timergara. Swabi has experienced intermittent rains, with water entering houses in Sharifabad and rescue teams working to extract water using pumps. In Kotha, the roof of a house collapsed due to the rain, burying two cattle under the debris, with rescue operations in progress.

Chitral and Lower Dir have faced severe flooding in several areas due to heavy rain, including Reshun Valley and other streams of Upper Chitral. The floods have caused extensive damage to residential houses, gardens, and agricultural lands, and have disrupted vehicular traffic. Similar flooding has been reported in the rivers of Koghuzi, Shishi Koh, and Kalash Valley in Lower Chitral, inundating low-lying areas.

Persistent rain in Muzaffarabad, Neelum, and Jhelum valleys has created pleasant weather conditions but has also caused road closures, particularly on the highway connecting Muzaffarabad to Rawalpindi at Kohala. The Met Department predicts continued rain for the next day.

In Mansehra, severe flooding in the Mahandri drain on the Kaghan highway washed away a bridge, causing extensive damage to Mahandri Bazaar and suspending traffic. Many tourists are now stranded in Kaghan valley.

Heavy rains have also led to flooding in rivers across the northeastern districts of Balochistan, with significant water flow reported in rivers such as Nari, Tali, Lehri, and Mishkaf.

In Harnai and its adjoining areas, heavy rains have persisted through the night, causing floods in rivers and canals and suspending traffic on the Harnai-Quetta highway. The high-level flood relay in the Zardalu river has also damaged nearby agricultural lands.

Khyber district and its suburbs have experienced intermittent rain, resulting in a drop in temperature and the arrival of rainy trains in rivers and canals.

The rains in Swat have caused flooding in the upper areas of Kalam. A temporary land passage has been washed away, suspending connections with the upper areas. Heavy machinery has reached to restore the passage.

Authorities have directed all departments, including the National Highway Authority (NHA), to remain alert and take steps to keep the roads open in Swat, Kalam, and other tourist spots. Efforts are ongoing to address the damage and assist affected communities as the heavy rains continue to pose significant challenges across the country.