PMD Forecasts Heavy Rainfall Across Pakistan, Warns of Urban Flooding and Landslides
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a nationwide alert, forecasting heavy rainfall in multiple regions starting today (Monday). The downpour is expected to affect Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, and Islamabad, significantly raising the risks of urban flooding and landslides.
According to the PMD, flash floods are likely to occur in rivers and streams of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Mansehra, and Abbottabad. Districts including Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi, and Mardan have also been identified as vulnerable. Authorities have already alerted emergency response teams to remain prepared for rescue and relief operations.
Low-lying areas of Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, northeast Punjab, Kashmir, and Dera Ghazi Khan face the possibility of inundation due to continuous rainfall. The PMD has also highlighted potential landslides in the mountainous regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which could cause disruptions to road traffic and cut off access to several remote areas.
Urban centres, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sialkot, Peshawar, and Nowshera, may see severe waterlogging in low-lying neighborhoods. Commuters in these cities have been advised to exercise caution, as heavy rain could result in traffic gridlocks and infrastructure damage.
The PMD further noted that heavy showers are likely in the Potohar region and several districts of northeast Punjab. Southeastern Sindh is also expected to experience rainfall, while other areas of the country will continue to witness hot and humid weather.
Disaster management authorities have urged citizens to stay updated with official weather advisories and avoid unnecessary travel in flood-prone or landslide-prone areas. Timely precautions, they stressed, could minimize risks to life and property.
