Pakistan Issues Flood Alert as Heavy Rains Threaten Rivers, Streams
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority has issued a flood alert for several parts of the country as forecast rainfall through September 17 raises the risk of increased flows in rivers, streams and mountain waterways.
The NDMA warned that parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Balochistan could face flooding as the latest weather system brings rain to different regions. Increased rainfall in upper catchments could raise water levels in rivers and associated streams.
The alert comes as a combination of a westerly weather system and moist currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal affects Pakistan.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department’s Flood Forecasting Division forecasts scattered to widespread rain and thunderstorms, with isolated heavy falls, over upper catchments of major rivers, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, upper and central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northern Balochistan and southeastern Sindh through September 17.
Official flood forecasting information indicates that flows in the country’s major rivers and their associated nullahs are expected to increase slightly during the period.
Importantly, this does not mean Pakistan’s major rivers are currently experiencing severe flooding nationwide.
The Flood Forecasting Division’s latest available river monitoring showed the Indus, Kabul, Jhelum, Neelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej below low-flood levels, while an official September 13 update said flows at major gauging stations were expected to remain normal in the immediate period.
However, rainfall between September 14 and 17 could produce a rise in flows at major rim stations and adjoining nullahs, particularly in vulnerable areas.
The risk is therefore more localised and weather-dependent, with authorities particularly concerned about flash flooding in streams and nullahs, urban flooding and landslides in mountainous areas rather than declaring a nationwide river-flood emergency.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the NDMA and relevant authorities to mobilise available resources to assist communities affected by heavy rainfall and ensure relief operations where required.
Rain is also affecting parts of Sindh. The official FFD outlook includes Badin, Sujawal and Tharparkar among areas where more widespread rain is possible, while scattered thunderstorms are forecast for Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas, Thatta, Umerkot and surrounding districts.
Karachi experienced rainfall in several areas overnight, including Bin Qasim Town, Gulshan-e-Hadeed and Quaidabad, while Sindh authorities placed local government institutions on emergency footing because of the rain forecast.
Residents in vulnerable locations should follow official NDMA, provincial disaster-management and PMD advisories, particularly before travelling near rivers, mountain streams, low-lying roads or areas prone to landslides.
The situation remains developing through September 17, and flood risk could change depending on the intensity and location of rainfall.
