Flash flood forecast in Pindi amid monsoon

Islamabad: While forecasting widespread rains in the current week, the weathermen have alerted the authorities to the possibility of flash floods in major cities, including Rawalpindi to take necessary measures to minimise damage to public life and property.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the heavy rainfall will be caused by strong monsoon weather system, which is likely to remain very active during the week.

Under the influence of this weather system, rain coupled with wind and thunders with few heavy to very heavy falls is expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, AJK, Punjab's Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Lahore, Sargodha, Mianwali, Khushab, Bhakkar and Layyah, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Dir, Swat, Buner, Kohistan, Shangla, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda, Nowshera, Peshawar, Waziristan, Kurrum, Bannu, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, Tank, Karak and Dera Ismail Khan areas, and Gilgit-Baltistan region's Ghizer, Astore, Diamer, Skardu, Gilgit, Hunza Nagar, Ghanche and Kharmang areas until Thursday.

The PMD warned that heavy rainfall could generate flash floods in the local and barsati nullahs in Sialkot and Narowal and hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan, Balochistan, Shangla, Buner, Batgram, Upper Swat, Kohistan and AJK until Wednesday.

According to it, there is a possibility of flooding in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta and Badin during the period.

"Heavy rains may trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhuwa until Wednesday. There is a possibility of damaging effects of the windstorm along the western border of Khyber-Pakhtunkhuwa and increase in water level in major rivers and reservoirs," it said. The PMD asked all relevant authorities to remain alert during the period.