—– Alerts rains likely to trigger landslides in Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and KP areas
By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has warned that the upper and central parts of the country are likely to receive scattered heavy falls during the next three days (up to July 30).
According to the weather department, monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea are continuously penetrating while a westerly wave is also present in the upper and central parts of the country.
Under the influence of these systems, rain/wind-thundershowers (with scattered heavy falls) are expected in Kashmir, (Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, Mirpur), Gilgit Baltistan (Diamir, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, Shigar), Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur and Peshawar.
Showers are also expected in Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Kurram, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Karak, Waziristan, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Kasur, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Bhakkar, Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar and Okara with occasional gaps.
It said rain/wind-thundershowers (with few heavy falls) were expected in Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbella, Awaran, Kech, Gwadar, Panjgur, Mastung, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Zhob, Sherani, Barkhan, Musakhel, Kohlu, Jhal Magsi, Loralai, Dera Ghazi khan, Rajanpur, Multan, Khanewal, Layyah, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan from the night of July 27 to 28. The PMD, in its press release, said heavy rains might generate flash floods in Balochistan and hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan on July 27 (night) and July 28.
While the same weather was expected in Kashmir, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Manshera, Abbottabad, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, including (Lai Nullah), from July 27 to 29. These heavy rains might cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad from the night of July 27 to 29. These might also trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The PMD advised that farmers should manage their activities accordingly. It further said tourists and travellers should remain extra cautious to avoid any untoward situation during the wet spell.
The weather department said people should avoid electric output, and wind-thunderstorm might damage loose structures like electric poles, solar panels etc. The PMD advised the general public to stay at safe places during wind-storm/lightning/heavy rains.
July records 73pc more rains than previous years
The PMD said 73 per cent more rains were recorded from July 1 to 26 which was extraordinary. The PMD said 89.1mm rains were recorded in the country compared to average rains measuring 51.5mm. Gilgit-Baltistan recorded 229 per cent more rains than average.
Sindh recorded 176 per cent, Balochistan 114 per cent and Punjab witnessed 40 per cent more rain than average rains recorded in these areas during previous years.
