The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued an emergency alert, as heavy monsoon rains across Pakistan pushed river levels in Punjab to dangerous heights. Situation is similar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is already reeling with devastation and death toll in Buner.
The rising water levels have already submerged villages and destroyed crops. The NDMA forecasted more intense rainfall this week, heightening fears of further floods, landslides, and damages in multiple provinces.
Since June 26, Pakistan has been battling severe flooding, with at least 657 confirmed deaths and nearly 1,000 injured due to continuous rains, flash floods, and landslides. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has been the worst-affected, with 370 fatalities reported so far. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the devastation is being mainly caused due to cloudbursts and flash floods
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif deployed ministers to supervise relief efforts in the devastated regions, particularly Buner, Bajaur, Swat, and Shangla.
However, now the NDMA’s National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has forecasted two to three more monsoon spells through mid-September, with rainfall intensity expected to be 50-60 per cent higher than average.
The NEOC reported that the rainy system remains active in regions like Swat, Buner, Malakand, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and parts of Sindh and Balochistan. The authorities warned of flash floods, landslides, and thunderstorms in hilly and coastal areas. The NDMA urged the public to avoid non-essential travel and stay clear of rivers, fast-flowing water, and landslide-prone zones.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) also issued an alert for the ongoing seventh spell of monsoon rains, expected to last until August 22, and warned of possible cloudbursts in some regions.
On Monday, authorities in Mianwali have reported increased water levels in the Indus River, with moderate flooding at Jinnah and Chashma barrages. The situation remains dire, with continued rainfall and flash floods affecting large swathes of the country.
