Weather office warns of flash floods as Pakistan to receive more monsoon showers till July 26 

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted more monsoon showers in the country between July 22 and July 26, warning of urban and flash floods in low-lying areas in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

Monsoon currents are continuously penetrating in the country from the Bay of Bengal and a westerly trough is affecting upper parts of Pakistan that may persist during the next few days, according to the PMD.

Apart from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rains or thundershowers may also hit southern and southwestern regions of the country.

“Heavy rains may cause urban flooding in low lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Lahore from 22nd to 26th July and may trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the period,” the PMD said in a statement.

“Heavy rain may generate flash flooding in Kashmir, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Manshera, Abbottabad, Rawalpindi/Islamabad during 22nd to 26th July, while in hill torrent of Dera Ghazi Khan and adjoining areas of northeast Balochistan on 22nd and 23rd July.”

On Friday, Karachi, the commercial hub of the country, also received heavy rain, with water accumulating in several areas. The weather office said the city could receive more downpours over the next two days.

“Heavy rains may trigger water logging in low-lying areas of Karachi and Hyderabad during 22nd to 24th July,” it said.

The summer monsoon brings South Asia 70-80 percent of its annual rainfall between June and September and is vital for the livelihoods of millions of farmers in a region of around two billion people. However, it also triggers flash floods that often cause deaths via electrocution, drowning, and other accidents.

Up to 14,000 people were evacuated from villages in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province last week as heavy rains lashed Pakistan and neighboring India.

The PMD advised farmers to manage their activities keeping the weather forecast in view and tourists to remain extra cautious during the wet spell.

“Wind-thunderstorm may damage loose structures like electric poles, solar panels, etc,” it added. “General public is advised to stay at safe places during wind-storm/heavy rains.”