Preventive steps against monsoon rains ordered Monsoon season begins in country

Islamabad: As the monsoon sets in, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and all the provincial governments to immediately take necessary measures to prevent damage to public life and property by rains.

In a statement issued by the PM Office’s media wing, the prime minister said adequate emergency measures should be taken throughout the country to contain any potential damage in the monsoon season.

He also asked the relevant authorities to properly inform the people living in vulnerable areas about the emergency procedures and ensure timely evacuations wherever needed. The Met Office has already issued a weather advisory saying though July is likely to see normal monsoon rainfall, there is a high probability of localised rain spells, which may generate flash floods in mountainous and sub-mountainous regions.

It also warned that due to the erratic behaviour of the summer monsoon, extreme precipitation events could occur at isolated places in the country and thus, causing floods.  Meanwhile, the monsoon season began during the Eid holidays by causing intermittent rain, turning the weather pleasant to the enjoyment of holidaymakers.

The rainy spell, which began in the early hours of Monday, is likely to last for two more days, cheered the residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi by cooling the soaring temperatures. The rain was heavy on one occasion and light on the other. However, the twin cities had a relatively good rain overall. After the rainfall, the weather played hide and seek by being mildly sunny yet windy and cloudy.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department said on Wednesday evening that Islamabad and Rawalpindi had received 51mm and 39mm rainfall respectively at maximum during the last 24 hours. However, just 5mm rain was recorded in the nearby hill station of Murree.   The Met Office has forecast more rains in the next 48 hours.