ISLAMABAD: Around 100 people have died so far during the monsoon 2020, while flows are likely to increase in all the major rivers as strong monsoon currents are penetrating in upper and lower parts of the country, said the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and National Weather Forecasting Center.
According to the daily flood/base flow data obtained from India, keeping in view the higher water level in Mangla reservoir (1,239.45 feet) and expected rains over the upper catchments of all the major rivers especially upstream Mangla, which may result in increasing discharge of surplus water from Mangla Dam.
The authority stated that heavy rains recorded in districts of Sindh (Mirpur Khas, Tharparkar, Karachi, Badin, Thatta, Hyderabad, Chhor, and Tando Jam).
It further stated that 99 people had died including 42 children across the country during the current monsoon spell and 46 others had been injured.
Sindh topped the list with 34 deaths followed by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with 29 and Balochistan 15.
Further, according to overall preliminary damages of infrastructure and private properties, 244 properties were damaged, while 895 were damaged partially.
The NDMA has provided 6,800 tents in Sindh, 2,100 in Balochistan, and 72 in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Widespread thunderstorm/rain with isolated heavy to very heavy falls is expected over the upper catchments of rivers Kabul, Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi along with Hazara, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala divisions during the next 24 hours.
Scattered thundershower/rain with moderate to heavy falls is expected over the upper catchment of River Indus along with Malakand, DI Khan, DG Khan, Sargodha, Faisalabad and Lahore divisions, and East Balochistan and Upper Sindh.
Isolated thunderstorm/rain is expected over the upper catchment of River Sutlej along with south and southeastern Sindh and Bahawalpur Division.
Rainfall activity is likely to decrease over the country.
The district administrations of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have put their rescue teams on high alert after the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned of heavy rain and issued flood warning in Leh Nullah and other streams.
The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has also opened spillways of Rawal dam and Simly dam due to heavy monsoon rains.
The heavy rains raised water level in Sohan River.
The administration also urged the people residing along the Sohan River and Korang Nullah to refrain from fishing and bathing in the downstream because of the release of large amount of water from the lake as it could be dangerous these days.
The Rawalpindi district administration to put rescue teams on alert and mobilise local machinery for the safety of residents of low-lying areas along Leh Nullah after the NDMA warned it of flood threats due to expected heavy rainfall.
The civil defence has set up a special control room to monitor flood situation in nullahs particularly Leh.
According to civil defence officials, Rescue 1122, the Punjab Emergency Service and Civil Defence teams would remain alert and in case of flood emergency in any area, relief and rescue operation would be started particularly in the low-lying areas of Nullah Leh.
According to the PMD, heavy rainfall may generate urban flooding/water logging in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta and Badin from Monday to Tuesday.
Heavy downpour may generate flash flooding in hill torrents of Kalat, Khuzdar and Lasbella during the period.
It also warned that heavy falls may generate urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan, Haripur, Gujranwala, Jhelum, Sialkot, Hafizabad, Sargodha, Lahore and Faisalabad on Wednesday and Thursday, and may trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
The PMD advised all concerned authorities to remain on high alert.
According to the PMD, daily forecast strong monsoon currents are penetrating in upper and lower parts of the country.
Westerly wave is also affecting upper parts of the country.
Rain-wind/thundershowers are expected in most districts of Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir.
While more rain-thundershowers are also expected at isolated places in Sindh and eastern Balochistan.
Heavy falls are also likely to occur in Kashmir.
Rainfall recorded in the last 24 hours in various parts of the country including Rawalpindi (Chaklala 10 mm, Shamsabad 02 mm), Islamabad (Zero Point 08 mm, Airport 06 mm, Bokra 02 mm, Golra 01 mm) , Gujranwala 95 mm, Sialkot (City 84 mm, Airport 35 mm), Jhelum 78 mm, Kot Addu 53 mm, Murree 46 mm, D. G Khan 30 mm, Chakwal 27 mm, Lahore )Airport 23 mm, City 19 mm), Sahiwal 23 mm, Noorpur Thal 20 mm, Attock 19 mm, Narowal 15 mm, Gujrat 12 mm, Faisalabad, MB Din 10 mm, Kasur 09 mm, Joharabad, Okara 07 mm, Karor (Layyah) 05 mm, Rahim Yar Khan 04 mm, Khanpur 03 mm, Sargodha 02 mm, Mohenjo-Daro 100 mm, Jaccobabad 60 mm, Larkana 57 mm, Paddidan 31 mm, Dadu 07 mm, Karachi (Landhi 06 mm, University Road 05 mm, Masroor Base 04 mm, Jinnah Airbase, North Karachi 03 mm, Sarjani, Old Area A/P, Faisal Base, Gulshan-e-Hadeed 02 mm, Saddi Town, Kemari, Nazimabad 01 mm), Sukkur, Badin 06 mm, Mithi, Sakrand 03 mm, Shaheed Benazirabad 01 mm, Kotli 82 mm, Rawalakot 27 mm, Garhi Dupatta 18 mm, Muzaffarabad (Airport 12 mm, City 07 mm), Sibi 74 mm, Barkhan 42 mm, Khuzdar 19 mm, Zhob 12 mm, Lasbella 03 mm, Kalat 02 mm, Malam Jabba 20 mm, Saidu Sharif 08 mm, Kalam 04 mm, Kakul, Balakot 03 mm, Peshawar (City 02 mm, Airport 01 mm), Gilgit-Baltistan: Gupis 08 mm, Gilgit, Bagrote 07 mm, Hunza 05 mm, Astore 04 mm, Skardu, Mirkhani 03 mm, and Bunji 01 mm.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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