NDMA issues weather alert, heavy rain & thunderstorm expected

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a weather alert advising of possible windstorms, thunderstorms, and rainfall in various parts of the country over the next 12 to 24 hours.

The advisory mentioned that several districts in Punjab, such as Rawalpindi, Murree, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jhelum, Sialkot, Talagang, Hafizabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Khushab, Jhang, and Mianwali, would receive rainfall along with thunderstorms.

NDMA also said that parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, including Skardu, Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Hunza, Ghanche, Shigar, and parts of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, such as Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Bagh, Kotli, Poonch, Hattian, Mirpur, and Bhimber, were likely to see the same weather.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Chitral, Dir, Swat, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda, Peshawar, Kohat, Parachinar, Karak, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, and Waziristan areas may also get thunderstorms with rain.

Moreover, NDMA warned there was a possibility of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir due to the prevailing weather pattern.

In addition, parts of Balochistan, such as Turbat, Kech, Awaran, Khuzdar, and Zhob, and parts of Sindh, such as Jacobabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, Dadu, Ghotki, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Shaheed Benazirabad, and Karachi, may witness strong winds along with thunderstorms.

The NDMA instructed provincial and district administrations to be prepared with adequate safety measures and procedures. People are also urged to exercise caution and stay informed about weather updates issued by authorities.