Heavy rains continued in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since Monday evening, causing widespread disruption and flooding. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
As the monsoon intensified, heavy rains lashed the northern and northern parts of the country on Thursday, causing widespread disruption.
Lahore recorded 343 millimeters of rainfall in the last 48 hours, while Gilgit-Baltistan was worst hit by torrential downpours in the last two days. The region was further hit by downpours, rapid melting of glaciers and severe flooding in streams and rivers, exacerbating the impact of the extreme weather conditions.
Additionally, the Flood Forecasting Division of the Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned of increasing flood risks as a strong monsoon system interacting with a westerly wave is expected to trigger widespread rainfall, rapid river flows, flash floods in mountainous areas, hill torrents and urban flooding in vulnerable cities, prompting authorities to closely monitor watersheds and disaster-prone regions.
According to a hydrological situation alert, widespread rains with isolated heavy falls are expected over Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and parts of Balochistan during the next two days.
High flood conditions persisted on Thursday at Khanki and Qadirabad dams on the Chenab River, while Marala Dam remained at average flood level as monsoon flows continued to swell Punjab’s rivers, according to the latest data.
The data showed that the Chenab at Marala Dam recorded an inflow of 194,452 cusecs and an outflow of 174,452 cusecs, maintaining an average flood level. At Khanki Dam, the inflow reached 261,463 cusecs against the outflow of 256,063 cusecs, placing the dam in a high flood category.
At Qadirabad Dam, the river carried an inflow of 267,159 cusecs, while 252,159 cusecs were discharged downstream. Authorities said 15,000 cusecs of water were being diverted to the QB Link canal, while high flood conditions persisted at the dam.
The Ravi River remained largely stable. At Kot Naina, the river was flowing at 17,500 cusecs, with water levels showing a decreasing trend. The flows at Jassar, Ravi Siphon and Shahdara were recorded at 24,940 cusecs, 32,577 cusecs and 32,138 cusecs, respectively, under conditions described as normal.
Gilgit-Baltistan
Flood torrents, landslides and falling debris severely damaged many houses, link roads, three major bridges, irrigation systems, drinking water systems and large areas of agricultural land, while land connectivity to several areas was cut.
The Gilgit-Chitral highway was also closed due to rains.
On the outskirts of Gilgit town, floodwaters entered houses in Konodas, Skarkoi, Jotal and Naltar, causing heavy damage to crops and standing trees.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
At least 22 people have been killed and 23 others injured in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province since July 19, as heavy monsoon rains and flash floods triggered house collapses and swept away people, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Thursday.
