Heavy rainfall expected across Punjab, NDMA issues alert

LAHORE: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has forecast heavy rains and hailstorms with thunder in different parts of the country during the next 3 days, and the risk of glacial lakes bursting, landslides, and flooding has also been expressed.

According to the NDMA, a powerful system bringing rain has entered Pakistan, and there is a risk of hailstorms along with thundershowers from today to May 5.

According to the NDMA, melting glaciers in the upper areas may cause glacial lakes to burst. Heavy rains may cause landslides and flooding in the mountainous areas.

In severe weather conditions, roads may be closed, and transportation may be affected. Rain is likely in Murree, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sialkot, and Faisalabad, as well as other areas of Punjab.

Various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir will also experience clouds. The risk of hailstorms has also been expressed in some places of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Citizens have been asked to avoid unnecessary travel, move livestock and valuables to safe places, and ensure implementation of the instructions of the local administration. Intermittent rain continued in various areas of Lahore.

According to the Meteorological Department, the highest rainfall in the city was recorded in Tajpura at 8 mm and in Johar Town at 7 mm.

In view of the fear of water accumulation in low-lying areas due to rain, WASA officials issued an alert. MD WASA Ghufran Ahmed directed all town directors to continuously monitor their respective areas and said that operational staff should be present in the field for drainage, and any emergency should be dealt with immediately.

According to the Meteorological Department, the minimum temperature in Lahore today is likely to be 25 degrees Celsius, while the maximum is likely to reach 35 degrees Celsius.

The city will continue to see a mix of sun and clouds throughout the day, while more rain is expected in some places.

In Islamabad, too, the weather became pleasant after the rain, and the temperature was recorded at 18 degrees in the morning. The temperature in the federal capital will go up to 28 degrees.

According to the Meteorological Department, the weather will remain partly cloudy in Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral, and Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while rain will be expected in Murree, Kashmir, and Hazara divisions in the evening.

On the other hand, the intensity of heat has been predicted to increase further in Karachi from today. According to the Meteorological Department, the temperature in Karachi today will be between 38 and 40 degrees, the humidity in the air is 75 percent and the total temperature in the city can reach 41 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature today is likely to be between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius.