RAWALPINDI / LAHORE: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted another spell of rains in upper parts of the country from Wednesday (today) due to the penetration of “monsoon currents” from the Arabian Sea, also warning of increased water flow in nullahs and streams and landslides in several areas.

Meanwhile, many towns in Sindh also received heavy rains on Monday night and Tuesday, causing urban flooding, inundating agricultural lands and leading to widespread power breakdowns.

In an advisory issued on Tuesday, the Met Office said a westerly wave was also likely to enter the country on Thursday.

Under the new spell, rains with wind/thundershowers were expected in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Neelam valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hat­tian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur from the night of Aug 2 to Aug 7 with occasional gaps, the department said.

A similar forecast was issued for Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghan­che, Shigar, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Atto­­ck, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Guj­ra­n­wala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Chitral, Dir, Sheikhupura, Lah­ore, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, and Nowshera as well.

Met department warns of flooding in streams in AJK, Islamabad, KP, GB from Aug 4 to 7

The department also predicted rains and thundershowers in Kurram, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Banni, Karak, Waziristan, Kasur, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang and Bhakkar from Aug 4 to Aug 7 with occasional gaps.

The department further warned in its advisory that the rains could cause flooding in local nullahs and streams in Kashmir, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan from Aug 4 to Aug 7.

“Heavy rains may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawal­pindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Lahore and may trigger landslides in vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, GB and KP,” it said.

It advised travellers and tourists to remain cautious during the forecast period.

Relief efforts

Meanwhile, thousands of people have been forced to flee homes amid medium-level floods caused by water erosion in different districts of Punjab. The calamity has wreaked havoc on several areas, prompting action from authorities to address the crisis and support the affected people.

In response to the unfolding disaster, the Provincial Disa­ster Management Authority (PDMA) convened a meeting on Tuesday to assess the situation and strategise on effective rehabilitation measures for the flood victims.

Addressing the urgent issue of river erosion, Punjab’s relief commissioner emphasised the importance of implementing safety measures at locations vulnerable to the overflow of the Chenab River.

As an immediate response, funds were pledged to support the rehabilitation works. Additionally, a protective embankment would be constructed around Mouza Sahmil, an area severely impacted by river erosion.

Meanwhile, PDMA reported low-level flooding in various locations along the Indus, Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab Rivers. However, the situation remained relatively normal in Sidhnai, Ravi, and Chenab.

In Alipur, the situation was particularly dire, with thousands of people being forced to evacuate their houses due to water erosion in different mouzas, particularly in Azmatpur and Seetpur.

The floods also submerged thousands of acres of farmland, including valuable cotton crops, leading to protests against the district administration for not implementing adequate preventive measures.

In Toba Tek Singh, overflowing low-level floodwater from the Ravi River has inundated crops on hundreds of acres of farmland in villages close to the river in Kamalia and Pirmahal tehsils.

Rescue and relief operations are in full swing to evacuate people from flood-affected areas and transfer them to safer locations using boats and ambulances.

Heavy rains in Sindh

The cities and towns affected by heavy spells of rains included Dadu, Johi, Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Radhan and Pyaro Goth in Dadu district; Kandiaro and Moro towns and adjacent villages of Naushahero Feroze district; and Bhan Syedabad, Sehwan, Sann and Manjhand towns of Jamshoro district.

Strong winds accompanying the downpour caused extensive damage to standing crops and thatched houses in rural areas. One to two feet of rainwater was flowing on the main roads and streets of Dadu city until late in the evening on Tuesday.

Qurban Ali Khushik in Dadu also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, Aug 2nd, 2023