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Heavy Rains Cause Major Disruptions Across Pakistan; Road Links Severed, Flash Floods Feared
Heavy rains wreak havoc across Pakistan, severing road links and causing flash floods. Authorities warn of more rainfall and urge precautions.
ND
by News Desk
2024-07-19
Heavy Rains Cause Major Disruptions Across Pakistan; Road Links Severed, Flash Floods Feared

The National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) and the Pakistan Meteorological Department have predicted heavy rainfall across the country over the coming week, leading to significant disruptions, including the washing away of a portion of the highway linking Quetta with Islamabad near Dhanasar due to torrential rains in the Zhob and Sherani districts.

 

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), flash floods and urban flooding are feared in many parts of the country due to heavy rainfall, potentially increasing water levels in local nullahs.

 

Met Office Director General Mehar Sahibzada Khan stated that the rain spell would continue until July 21, urging the public to take precautionary measures to avoid any untoward incidents. He noted that all four provinces, as well as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), would experience this new spell of rain. Landslides may disrupt roads in the hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galiyat, AJK, and GB during this period. Tourists have been advised to steer clear of areas prone to landslides and citizens are urged to keep children away from submerged areas and electrical wires.

 

On Wednesday, the NDMA issued a glacial lake outburst floods (Glof) alert for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan due to rising temperatures and expected heavy rainfall from July 17 to 23. This could lead to increased water levels in local rivers and streams, landslides, and flash flooding.

 

In Balochistan, the road link between Islamabad and Quetta was suspended after a portion of Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan highway was swept away following heavy rainfall over the past 36 hours in Zhob and Sherani districts. The long spell of rain caused urban flooding in Zhob, and swollen streams and hill torrents in the area led to flash flooding.

 

"Flash floods swept away a big portion of the road in Dhanasar area of Sherani district," said Sana Umrani, deputy commissioner of Sherani. "Landslides at N-50 Danasar have become routine after rainfall in Sulaiman Range," she added, noting that local administration and National Highway Authority (NHA) officials are continually monitoring the area. The road link between Zhob and Dera Ismail Khan was restored in the evening but only for light traffic.

 

Heavy monsoon rains caused flooding in seasonal streams and nullahs in Zhob and Sherani districts, forcing residents to flee their homes. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab issued an alert for heavy rain in various districts of Punjab province, forecasting the monsoon spell to continue until July 20.

 

Rain and thunderstorms are expected at isolated places in Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Multan, D.G. Khan, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Rajanpur, and Bahawalnagar districts. Partly cloudy weather with rain and thunderstorms is expected in Kashmir.

 

The meteorological office reported rain and thunderstorms at scattered places in Jhelum, Mangla, Mandi Bahauddin, and Rawalpindi, while isolated places in Kashmir, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Islamabad, Gujrat, Narowal, Chakwal, Lahore, Attock, Bhakkar, Khushab, and Layyah also experienced rainfall.

 

Rainfall recorded in the last 24 hours included: Jhelum 52.2mm, Mangla 37.6mm, Mandi Bahauddin 27mm, Chaklala 21mm, Hafizabad 15mm, Sialkot City 15mm, Sialkot Airport 13.2mm, Gujranwala 11.2mm, Islamabad City 9.2mm, Gujrat 7mm, Kotli 4mm, Narowal 3mm, Chakwal 2.6mm, Lahore Airport 1.7mm, Attock 1.0mm, and Bhakkar 0.4mm.
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NDMA

rainfall

PakistanWeather

WeatherUpdate

FloodAlert

Monsoon2024
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