The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Punjab issued a “high alert” on Tuesday after India released 208,597 cusecs of water into the Sutlej river.

Citing the flood levels below Sutlej in Firozpur, an Indian city located on the banks of the river, the PDMA said low-level floods were expected in plain areas.

Over the last two days, hundreds of people have been evacuated as increased water inflow in rivers from India threatened villages along riverbanks in Pakistan.

On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed authorities to make fool-proof arrangements to handle possible flooding in Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej rivers.

Talking to Dawn.com today, Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabil Javed said water released by India into Sutlej was expected to reach Kasur’s Ganda Singhwala, a village located at a distance of 59km from Lahore, in the next few hours.

He said commissioners and deputy commissioners of the areas concerned had been directed to complete all the preliminary arrangements, including evacuation of people living in low-lying areas, to prevent any untoward situation.

“Districts connected to the Sutlej river should finalise arrangements on an emergency basis and utilise all resources,” Javed stated, adding that the protection of life and property was the Punjab government’s “utmost priority”.

The relief commissioner further said that Rescue 1122 disaster response teams had been alerted and told to ensure the availability of machinery or other equipment required for rescue efforts.

Furthermore, Javed instructed authorities to ensure that there was no food, water or medicine shortages at the relief camps.

Meanwhile, PDMA Director General Imran Qureshi said there were chances of an increase in water levels at Sutlej, but at the same time assured that flows in all barrages and dams across Punjab were “normal”.

He added that water levels in all rivers, barrages and dams across the province were being monitored.

Flows to impact Sulemanki headworks

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said medium-level floods were reported from Harike and Firozpur in India, and were expected to reach Ganda Singhwala village in Kasur within the next 24 hours and six hours, respectively.

“Likely flows will impact the Sulemanki headworks within the next 38-48 hours,” it said.

The NDMA also listed the likely impact of floods which included inundation of low-lying areas and flooding of crops astride the Sutlej river.

In a later update, the NDMA said medium to high level of flooding was expected in the Sutlej river at Ganda Singh Wala.

The authority also listed in its fresh update late in the evening several cities across Pakistan that were to expected to receive rain and thundershowers over the next 24 to 48 hours.

The NDMA directed city and district administrations to ensure contingency traffic plans for areas vulnerable to flooding in urban centres and to cater for prompt de-watering operations in flooded underpasses.

District administrations were additionally directed to complete stock-taking activities and ensure reconnaissance and public awareness sessions in vulnerable areas, particularly the Chenab river at Trimmu and the Ravi river at Jassar, regarding increased flood flows until July 20.

The Punjab PDMA was ordered to ensure early warning and prompt response and evacuation systems in low-lying areas at risk along the banks of the Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab rivers and their associated nullahs.

Rescue services, armed forces and non-governmental organisations were also instructed to ensure the availability of personnel and equipment in the indicated areas and to be on standby for rapid response.

Separately, the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) said in an earlier report that scattered thunderstorms/rain were expected over the upper catchment of Sutlej.

1,486 villagers moved to safer locations: NDMA

At night, the NDMA said residents from Bhikhi Wind village in Kasur had been evacuated as a pre-emptive measure keeping in view the high flow of water in Sutlej.

The authority said Rescue 1122 personnel had moved 1,486 people from the village to safer locations and if the flow of the water increased in Sutlej, there were chances of the land route to the village being cut off.

More monsoon rains expected

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast another spell of monsoon rains in parts of the country — mainly in northern areas and Punjab — from July 13 to July 17 “with occasional gaps”.

The Met Office forecast said the rains were expected under the impact of monsoon currents that were likely to penetrate the upper and central parts of the country from the Arabian Sea from the evening of July 12 and intensify on July 14.

Moreover, a westerly wave was also expected to enter the upper parts of the country in the evening/ night on July 14, the forecast added.

The PMD predicted that under the impact of these weather systems, parts of Azad Kashmir, Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Kasur and Okara, were expected to receive rain and thundershowers, with few heavy falls, from the nigh/ evening of July 12 to July 17 with occasional gaps.

Meanwhile, the forecast added, rain and thundershowers with few heavy falls and occasional gaps were also expected in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral, Swat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Kurram, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Karak, Waziristan, Mianwali, Khushab, Sargodha, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh from the evening/ night of July 13 to july 17.

Moreover, Loralai, Kalat, Khuzdar, Zhob, Lasbela, Awaran, Musakhel, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Multan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Kot Addu, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Nagarparkar, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Sanghar and Mirpurkhas were likely to witness rain and thundershowers from the evening/ night of July 14 to July 16, the forecast said.

In view of the forecast, the PMD warned that heavy rain may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Lahore from July 14 to July 17 and trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Murree, Galiyat, Azad Kashmir, GB and hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Farmers are advised to manage their activities keeping in view of the weather forecast,” the PMD advisory said, adding that tourists and travellers were also advised to stay “extra cautious” to avoid any untoward situation during the wet spell.

It further stated that loose structures, such as electric poles and solar panels, may get damaged due to dust storms and thunderstorms and advised the public to stay at safe places during windstorms and heavy rains.

“All concerned authorities are advised to remain alert and take necessary precautionary measures during the forecast period,” the PMD said.

6 dead in last 24 hours

The monsoon system, which started on June 25, has so far resulted in the death of 86 people while 151 have been injured, NDMA said in its latest situation report.

Three deaths and nine injuries were reported over the last 24 hours in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. The deaths were caused by drowning, electrocution and roof collapses.

So far, Punjab has witnessed the highest number of deaths during the rains, with the provincial death toll at 52.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported 20 deaths, followed by six in Balochistan, five in Sindh and three in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

During the last 24 hours, the highest amount of rain was recorded in Attock in Punjab (60 mm). In KP, Cherat received the highest amount of rain (42mm), while Sindh’s Badin received 16mm of rain.