Flooding alert for twin cities as another rain spell begins today

Islamabad : While forecasting more downpour in upper and central parts of the country, including Islamabad and Rawalpindi, from today (Saturday) through next Tuesday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has alerted the relevant authorities to the possibility of urban flooding and massive landslides.

According to the PMD, monsoon currents are continuously penetrating in upper parts of the country and are likely to stay put till next Tuesday. Under the influence of that weather system, rain coupled with wind and thunderstorms with isolated heavy rainfalls is expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Mianwali, Kohistan, Shangla, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Dir, Chitral, Peshawar, Kohat, Karak and Tank and parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir from Saturday to Tuesday with occasional gaps.

Also, downpour is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan's Ghizer, Astore, Diamir, Skardu, Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Ghanche and Kharmang areas, Bannu, DI Khan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan and Sahiwal during the period.

About the possible impacts of that rain spell, the PMD said the downpower could generate flash floods in some local and rain-fed nullahs in Islamabad, Shangla, Buner, Batgram, Mansehra, Balakot, Abbottabad, Swat, Kohistan, AJK, Rawalpindi, Sialkot and Narowal from Saturday to Monday.

Also, heavy rainfall can generate urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad and Sargodha and trigger landslides in AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan and Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa.

"All relevant authorities should remain alert during the forecast period," it said in the advisory.