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LAHORE: Eastern Sindh, Southern Punjab and Balochistan's Kirthar Range will continue to face widespread rain with heavy to very heavy showers at isolated places in a day or two as the second monsoon low came closer to Pakistan on Sunday.
The monsoon low, which was spotted over the Indian state of Chhattisgarh a few days ago, moisture from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal and a westerly wave have been generating widespread rains, especially in Sindh since Aug 28.The continuous rains have generated urban flooding, claimed lives of over 50 people and destroyed crops over a vast area of land, especially in Sindh.
The first monsoon low from India had generated devastating rains in the country, mainly in Sindh, in mid-August.
Another nine lives were lost in rain-related incidents in Lower Sindh following torrential rain on Sunday.
Flood Forecasting Division chief Riaz Khan said the system was expected to generate widespread rain, heavy to very heavy at times, during 'the next at least 36 hours'.It moved over southern Rajasthan which is adjacent to Mirpurkhas division in Pakistan. It will directly affect Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad and Sukkur divisions (Sanghar, Umerkot, Mitthi, Thatta, Badin, Ghotki and Nawabshah districts).
Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahimyar Khan and Dera Ghazi Khan districts in Southern Punjab and Kirthar Range in Balochistan, which is adjacent to Sindh, will also be affected.
The chief meteorologist said the system was expected to start weakening after 36 hours, but the overall monsoon activity would continue to persist till Sept 10 with isolated rain anywhere in the country.
The monsoon activity begins in Pakistan in the first week of July and ends by September 15. This year it began in the last week of June.
The flood division reported that the Indus River was in low flood at Guddu and Sukkur, but Mr Khan said the situation was not alarming. Urban and flash flooding being generated by incessant rains, particularly in Sindh and adjacent Balochistan, were posing real threat to human life and property, he said.
Meanwhile, the Met department expected isolated thunderstorm/rain over Kashmir, Northern Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in 24 hours.
It said that many cities in the country continued to receive rain on Sunday.From 8am to 5pm Mirpurkhas received 63mm of rain, Hyderabad 26mm, Kotli 20mm, Nawabshah 18mm, Badin 17mm, Quetta and Mitthi 12mm (each), Chhor 11mm, Balakot 11mm, Jhang 9mm, Kakul 7mm, Parachinar 5mm, Murree, Islamabad Zero Point and Zhob 4mm (each), and Bhakkar, Bunji, Faisalabad and Hunza 1mm (each).
