Heavy rains predicted across country from today to July 23

ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) today issued a fresh alert regarding heavy rains, flash floods, river flooding and urban flooding in various cities of the country from July 19 to 23.

According to the NDMA, a strong monsoon and a strong westerly wind have entered the country, which will cause heavy rains at some places in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and upper Punjab from July 20 to 23, which is expected to cause flash flooding and hill torrents.

The alert said that there is a risk of flood rails in the upper reaches of the Chenab River at Marala and the Jhelum River at Mangla, while there is a possibility of water level rise and flooding in the Kabul River and its tributaries, especially in Panjkora, Swat and Chitral.

The NDMA has warned that flash flooding is likely in various areas of Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Muridke, DG Khan, Rajanpur, Murree, Galiat, Lower Chitral, Upper and Lower Dir, Malakand, Shangla, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.

According to the alert, there is also a serious risk of urban flooding in the low-lying areas of the twin cities of Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Hafizabad, Lahore and Sheikhupura and other cities.

The NDMA has directed the relevant agencies to keep emergency machinery and rescue teams on alert and has asked citizens to avoid unnecessary travel.

According to the agency, stay away from storm drains, flooded roads, river banks and areas prone to landslides, while seeking guidance from the Pak NDMA Disaster Alert App for authentic information and safety instructions.