PDMAs issue alerts as Punjab, Sindh brace for monsoon rains

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Punjab on Tuesday issued an alert for the fourth spell of monsoon rains in the province, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The PDMA said that most of districts of the province would receive showers from July 29 to August 5.

It said that heavy rainfall was expected in Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Khushab, Mianwali, Layyah, Bhakkar and Noorpur Thal during the above-mentioned period. 

The Authority said similarly rains were also likely in Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Khanewal, Multan, Vehari, Lodhran, Muzzafargarh, Kot Addu, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur from July 31 and August 3.

“Torrential rains are also expected to lash Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Murree, Galyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sialkot and Narowal,” it said, adding that urban flooding was feared in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Multan.

Similarly, the PDMA went on to say, landslides were feared in Murree and Galyat. 

Directing commissioners and deputy commissioners to remain on their toes, PDMA DG Umar Abbas Mela said that they should remain prepared to deal with urban flooding in several cities of the province.

He said that flooding was feared in the rivers coming from India as well as their tributaries due to heavy rains in the upper catchment areas.

He also directed the health, irrigation, construction and communication, local government and livestock departments to remain alert to deal with the consequences of rain.

Mela also appealed to people to take precautionary measures in view of inclement weather. “Stay away from mud houses and crumbling structures,” he said, adding that people should stay at safe places in order to protect themselves from windstorms and lightning.  

“Avoid travelling during bad weather. And also ask your children not to go near low-lying areas and electric wires,” the PDMA DG said, adding that in case of emergency, dial helpline number 1129. 

Also on Tuesday, the PDMA Sindh issued an alert for monsoon rains and urban flooding in the province from July 31 to August 2.

It said that heavy rains were likely in Hyderabad, Karachi, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Larkana, Badin, Tharparkar, Umarkot, Sanghar. 

It further said that Khairpur, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Ghotki, Kashmore and Qambar Shahdadkot, Thatta, Jamshoro, Matyari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allah Yar, Shaheed Benazirabad were also likely to receive showers. 

It informed that there could be urban flooding in Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Khairpur, Mithi and Umarkot during the aforementioned period.

PDMA DG Salman Shah said that the Authority’s Control Room was functional 24/7 and was monitoring the situation.

Reporter: Ali Ramay