Medium to high flood likely in rivers Jhelum, Chenab, others

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Flood Commission (FFC) has said that medium to high-level flood is expected in Rivers Jhelum, Kabul, Chenab at Marala, Khanki, and Qadirabad including nullahs (catchments) of river Ravi from July 30 to August 4 (Tuesday to Sunday).

According to the daily FFC report on Monday, low to medium flood is also likely in the River Indus at Tarbela, hill torrents of DG Khan Division, and nullahs of Zhob, Sibbit, Nasirabad, and Kalat Division during the said period.

Currently, River Indus is flowing in low flood at Tarbela while all other rivers of the Indus River System run normally. The country’s major reservoirs have attained 63.38 percent of their capacity, with 36.62 percent space still available to absorb any peak discharge.

According to Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) Lahore, a strong Westerly Wave is currently over Northern Afghanistan with a seasonal low over Northwestern Balochistan. Yesterday’s well-marked monsoon low over eastern Madhya Pradesh (India) has moved Westward, converted into a monsoon low, and is now over central Madhya Pradesh.

There is a possibility of interaction between the Westerly Wave and monsoon winds from Monday to Thursday, likely to strengthen further this week. Moderate moist currents from both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are penetrating the upper parts of Pakistan up to 5000 feet.

Widespread thunderstorm rain of moderate to heavy intensity with scattered very heavy falls and isolated extremely heavy rainfall over Islamabad, Punjab (Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lahore, and D G Khan Divisions) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including upper catchments of all majors rivers are expected during the next 24 hours.