Authorities told to be on alert amid flood fears

LAHORE: A strong westerly wave in league with a monsoon low pressure over India began to give widespread heavy to very heavy rain in the country on Tuesday, generating fears of high floods in the rivers and their tributaries in the next three to four days.

The situation is alarming and the authorities concerned must remain on high alert to avert loss of life and property, Flood Forecasting Divisions chief Riaz Khan said.It rained in many cities, but the most affected was Islamabad which received 109mm of rain.It remained heavily overcast in Lahore and it began to rain in the evening.
According to a red alert issued by the Meteorological Department, most parts of the country are likely to receive widespread rain in the next three days that could be heavy to very heavy in places like Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eastern Balochistan and Kashmir on Wednesday and Thursday.

Scattered rain and thundershower with isolated heavy rainfall are expected in Sindh. Heavy rains are likely to generate urban and flash flooding in the vulnerable areas.

The FFD warned about a high risk of flash flooding in the local streams and storm water channels of Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, Peshawar, Hazara, Mardan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Ismail Khan, Zhob, Sibi, Naseerabad and Kalat divisions and Kashmir on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Sutlej at Ganda Singhwala is likely to be in low flood (65,000 to 75,000 cusecs) during the next 24 hours.

Very high to exceptionally high flood is expected in river Jhelum at Mangla (upstream).

High flood is likely in the Indus at Kalabagh and Chashma from Wednesday to Thursday.

The Chenab at Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad and their tributaries Bhimber, Bhundar, Halsi, Daulti, Aik, Palku, Kahan and Bunnah will be in high to very high flood.

The same flood level is likely in the tributaries of the Ravi (Deg, Bhed, Hasri, Jhajri, Bassantar, Bein, Ujh, Tarnah), and the rivers Kabul, Kurram, Gambila, Soan and their tributaries.

Severe flash flooding is also expected in the hill torrents of D.G. Khan and northeast Balochistan.

The department forecast widespread thunderstorm and rain with scattered heavy to extremely heavy falls over Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Peshawar, Kohat, Hazara, Malakand, Mardan, D.I. Khan and Kashmir along with Multan and D.G. Khan.

Fairly widespread thunderstorm and rain is also expected in Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Quetta, Kalat, Zhob and Naseerabad. On Tuesday, Islamabad Zero Point received 109mm of rain, Islamabad Airport 92, Noor Pur Thal 82, Mianwali 70, Murree 69, Faisalabad 71, Peshawar City 56, Rawalakot 54, Jhang 48, Kakul 46, Balakot 44, Kotli 42, Garhi Dupatta 40, Sialkot Cantt and Jhelum 35, Mandi Bahauddin and Chakwal 30, Gujranwala 25, Muzaffarabad 24, Khuzdar 22, Pattan 19, Saidu Sharif 14, Malam Jabba 13, Risalpur 10 and Cherat 9mm.