Monsoon system weakening: Flood in three rivers damages crops, houses

LAHORE: The weather system generating widespread rain in the country for the past four days weakened on Saturday but the floods it triggered in the Indus, two eastern rivers and their tributaries in the Sialkot region continued to play havoc with crops and settlements along their embankments.

Lahore received more rain and four people, including a minor girl, died as the roofs of their houses collapsed in different localities.The Met office said the monsoon low over Bahawalpur and Indian Rajasthan had weakened. The westerly system converting moisture into rain too went away from over the northern areas. Therefore, there will no longer be heavy rain in the country.
However, some cities in Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi and some other divisions may have scattered rain because of the low temperatures and residual moisture in the air, Flood Forecasting Division chief Riaz Khan said.

According to the FFD, the Indus at Chashma, Taunsa and Guddu, the Chenab at Khanki and Qadirabad and the Ravi at Balloki and Shahdara are in medium flood.

The Indus at Kalabagh and Sukkur, the Kabul at Nowshera, the Chenab at Marala, the Ravi at Jassar and the Sutlej at Sulemanki are in low flood.

The Chenab will be in medium flood at Trimmu on Sunday and Monday. Its peak of 300,000 cusecs was crossing the Chiniot bridge on Saturday evening.

The Indus will be in high flood at Guddu on Aug 20 and 21. The tributaries of the Chenab and Ravi are still flooded because of the rain in the region and the adjoining Jammu.

The FFD said high to very high flood would continue to affect life and property along the tributaries on Sunday and Monday.

The floods in the rivers and the tributaries are affecting life, property and crops over thousands of acres in the riverine areas and along their embankments in Gujranwala, Sialkot, Chiniot, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura and Multan.

The medium flood in the Ravi at Shahdara created panic among people, displacing hundreds of nomads settled in its bed.

Nazir and his son Rashid of Kot Lakhpats Farid Colony were killed when the roof of their house collapsed. Three other members of the family sustained injuries.

Samrin, 5, was killed when then roof of her home in Nishter Colony collapsed. Her parents and other family members were injured.

Shakil Masih, 32, of Wandala Dyal, Shahdara, was killed in a similar accident. The Met office said that Kakul received 57mm of rain, Okara 44, Lahore Airport 39, Murree 35, Rawalakot 29, Lahore city 20, Sahiwal 10, Badin eight, Jhelum seven and Islamabad Airport, Faisalabad and Balakot 4mm.