Ndma alert problems for new rains from August 29

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) published an alert on Thursday while the meteorological department provides for rains and widespread thunderstorms across the country from August 29 to September 2, warning possible floods and landslides in several regions.

According to the NDMA, the districts of the north and northeast of Punjab, notably Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Siackot, Gujrat, Narowal, Hafizabad and Mandi Bahauddin, are likely to attend the heavy and August 31, raising floods.

The central and southern Punjab should also receive showers from August 29 to 31, with low areas at risk of flooding. Districts including Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Bhakkar, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan can undergo flooding conditions.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, heavy rains are expected from August 29 to 31. The divisions of Malakand and Hazara are particularly vulnerable to landslides, with districts such as Chitral, Dir, Swat, Biner, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Kohat and Bannu on alert.

Azad Jammu and Cashmire, including Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Haveli, Kotli, Mirpur and Bhimber, can face intense rains between August 29 and September 2, with a potential threat.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, heavy rains are scheduled from August 29 to 31, with the authorities warning landslides and the risk of flood lake (GLOF) in districts such as Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, Diamer, Astore, Ghizer and Ghanche.

The coastal districts of the Sindh, including Karachi, Thista, Sujawal, Badin and Tharparkar, should receive strong precipitation between August 30 and September 2.

The NDMA warned that Karachi faces the risk of urban flood due to potential showers. The districts of the interior of the Sindh, notably Hyderabad, Dadu, Sukkur, Ghotki, Larkana, Jacobabad and Kashmore, could also attend torrential rains between August 30 and September 1.

In Balutchistan, coastal and oriental districts such as Gwadar, Kech, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Lasbela and Kalat are likely to be affected by the rains from August 29 to September 1, with the possibility of flooding in low areas.

He also warned that continuous precipitation could intensify the flood conditions along the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers. “People must immediately contact local authorities and rescue managers in an emergency,” said the NDMA, adding that rescue operations were underway and were closely monitored. “All institutions guarantee the preparation to face any crisis.”

Punjab is currently faced with serious floods while water levels in the main rivers of the province – Chenab, delighted and Sutlej – remain dangerously high, with fluctuating flows with several heads. The disaster left 17 dead, while many others are still missing.

The floods in the Chenab, Sutlej and Ravi rivers have devastated nearly 1,400 villages across Punjab, moving more than 1.2 million people.

Along the Chenab, 991 villages and 769,281 people were affected, while Ravi River Bank Burst assigned 80 villages and 74,775 residents, and Sutlej flooded 361 villages, moving 392,768 people.