Monsoon activity likely to increase from Sunday

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned that monsoon activity is likely to increase from Sunday which may cause isolated heavy falls with one or two very heavy falls over the upper catchments of Rivers Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej.
According to NDMA, so far 46 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents while 79 others have been injured. The rains have also caused damages to 37 homes. The details issued by NDMA here on Friday said that a total 28 people have been killed by various rain related incidents in Punjab, 4 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 5 in Azad Kashmir, 2 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 7 in formerly Federal Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Out of the injured, 58 belong to Punjab, 7 to KP, 6 to Azad Kashmir, one to Gilgit-Baltistan and 7 belong to FATA. Of 37 houses damaged, 2 are in Punjab, 17 in KP, 4 in Azad Kashmir, 12 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 2 are in erstwhile FATA.
The authority said significant rains are expected in Lahore, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi Divisions, which may cause urban flooding. The NDMA further said scattered thunderstorm/rain with moderate to heavy falls is also expected over the upper catchments of River Jhelum along with Sahiwal and DG Khan Divisions.
According to Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority, due to torrential rains the other night a blockage situation was erupted in the River Immit (Tributary of River Ishkoman) which damaged road in village Badswat, Union Council Immit, Tehsil Ishkoman, district Ghizer. The authorities have established a tent village and a medical camp at Badswat, while local administration distributed 200 food packs among the people.
The NDMA had issued necessary pre-emptive measures to be followed during monsoon season 2018 which included timely clearance of sewerage and drainage systems in all major cities including Rawalpindi, Lahore and Peshawar by the concerned authorities, issuing alert to people residing in and close to river plains and water courses, creating awareness among the public with regards to vacating dangerous buildings, remaining away from electric wires and avoid swimming during rain especially in underpasses, and advising vulnerable population not to venture into nullahs and flash flooding routes.
It also advised National Highway Authority (NHA), Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and Communication and Works (C&W) departments of respective provinces and regions to remain vigilant in restoring road linkages. National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Network (NHEPRN) will advise all provincial health departments about pre-placement of necessary staff and medicines where required, the advisory report added.
The NDMA has also issued national response guidelines for monsoon 2018 which have been evolved keeping in mind impediments in response mechanism and experiences of past floods. The preparedness phase for enhanced response mechanism in the guidelines exhort integrated and timely sharing of information and resource mapping in respective region to intimate NDMA in time.