LAHORE: Pakistan’s meteorological authorities warned on Friday of another spell of heavy monsoon rains across Punjab and Sindh from September 6 to 10, raising the risk of flash floods and urban inundation.
The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said showers will hit Lahore, Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Gujrat and Sialkot on September 6. Narowal, Jhelum, Hafizabad, Okara and Sahiwal are also likely to receive rain. The authority added that Gujranwala, Kasur, Jhang, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Mianwali and Rajanpur could also be affected.
The PDMA cautioned that hill torrents from September 7 to 9 may trigger flash floods in Dera Ghazi Khan. It directed commissioners and deputy commissioners across Punjab to remain on high alert.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said the Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers were already experiencing flooding, while urban drains in major cities could overflow during the downpours. He urged citizens to take precautionary measures.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicted rain in Islamabad between September 6 and 8.
Sindh on high alert
The PMD forecast intermittent heavy rainfall across Sindh between September 7 and 10, warning of possible urban flooding in Karachi and other cities. It said a low-pressure system over India’s Madhya Pradesh is likely to move into Rajasthan and reach Sindh by September 6, driving strong monsoon currents into Sindh and eastern Punjab.
Rain is expected in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Khairpur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal, Jamshoro, Dadu, Kashmore, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Ghotki and Karachi.
The PMD cautioned that heavy downpours could submerge low-lying areas in Karachi, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Tharparkar, Khairpur, Sukkur, Larkana, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal and Hyderabad.
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Several districts of Balochistan are also likely to experience rainfall, it added.
