Flash Flood Warnings
The Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMA) of Punjab and Sindh have issued warnings of flash floods in various cities across both provinces due to heavy monsoon rains expected from Monday to Thursday.
According to a notification issued by the PDMA Punjab on social media platform X, cities at risk include Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, and Toba Tek Singh, among others.
The alert highlighted that heavy downpours and windstorms could weaken the structures of mud houses, electric poles, billboards, and solar panels.
“Heavy falls may generate flash flooding in local nullahs/streams of Murree and Galliyat on 23rd and 24th July,” PDMA Punjab stated.
The notification added that heavy falls might also cause urban flooding in the low-lying areas of Punjab on the same dates.
Travellers and tourists were advised to exercise extra caution, manage their travel plans according to weather conditions, and avoid any potential dangers during the wet spell.
Farmers were also advised to adjust their activities based on the weather forecast. The PDMA Punjab directed the Rescue 1122 service to remain on high alert with sufficient emergency response personnel and equipment during the forecast period.
Additionally, authorities in Punjab were instructed to establish a streamlined and efficient communication system through phone calls, SMS, and public announcements to ensure timely dissemination of weather forecasts.
This warning follows a recent incident where 12 people died, and 27 others were injured in Punjab due to heavy rains, which also led to the collapse of 14 houses, according to a fact sheet issued by the provincial PDMA on July 13.
In Sindh, the PDMA issued a weather alert for July 21 to July 27, stating, “Rainfall with chances of heavy falls may generate flash/urban flooding in municipalities/local nullahs/streams and river tributaries.”
The general public was advised to be cautious of loose structures such as billboards, electrical poles, solar panels, hoardings, and under-construction buildings during the rains.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) also warned of thunderstorms and rains likely to occur in several areas of Sindh, including Tharparkar, Umarkot, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Hyderabad, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allah Yar, Matiari, Kambar, Shadad Kot, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Ghotki, Sukkur, Thatta, and Sajawal districts, according to state-run Radio Pakistan.
This warning comes as Pakistan continues to recover from the devastating 2022 floods, which caused widespread destruction, affected 33 million people, and resulted in estimated losses of $30 billion, according to government figures.
The monsoon rains of 2023 further hampered recovery efforts and brought additional hardship for affected people.
According to UNICEF, as of August 2023, millions of people in the country, especially children, still needed humanitarian assistance and access to essential services.
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