Punjab on river flood alert
The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has warned of potential flooding in the province's rivers following heavy rains in upper catchment areas and possible release of water into the Sutlej River by India in the next two days.
According to PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia, an unusual rise in water levels has been recorded in Indian dams, with Bhakra Dam at 61 per cent, Pong Dam at 76 per cent and Thein Dam at 64 per cent of capacity. The Punjab PDMA, along with the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) and the irrigation department, is monitoring the river and dam conditions round the clock.
The levels at Ganda Singh in the Sutlej River have returned to normal from low flood levels, but the risk of increase remains.
Medium- to high-level flooding alerts have been issued for Marala, Khanki, and Qadirabad in the Chenab River.
The DG has directed the divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and all relevant departments to remain on high alert.
Residents of riverine areas have been urged to immediately relocate to safe places and cooperate with the administration in case of emergency evacuations.
The public has been advised to take precautionary measures, avoid bathing in rivers, canals, streams and ponds, and refrain from unnecessary crossings or picnics near rivers in flood conditions. Children should be kept away from waterways at all times. For emergencies, citizens can contact the PDMA helpline 1129.
Meanwhile, scattered showers accompanied by humid conditions were witnessed in Lahore on Tuesday, with the Met Office forecasting similar weather over the next 24 hours.
Rain began early morning and continued intermittently until the evening in several localities.
The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) instructed the staff to remain on high alert and ensure prompt clearance of rainwater from roads.
According to Meteorological Department officials, a seasonal low persists over north Balochistan, while moist currents from the Arabian Sea are penetrating the upper parts of the country.
They predicted that hot and humid weather would prevail in most plain areas, though partly cloudy skies with rain, wind or thundershowers are expected at isolated locations in northeast Punjab, the Pothohar region, upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Rain was also recorded in Kotli, Garhi Dopatta, Muzaffarabad, Malam Jabba, Kakul, Sialkot, Murree, Narowal, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Babusar.
The highest temperature recorded in Lahore on Tuesday was 38 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the water discharge at River Chenab, Marala Headworks, reached 142,216 cusecs, marking a medium-level flood. At Manawar Tawi, Surkhpur, the discharge is 9,636 cusecs, with conditions reported as normal. Nullah Dek at Kingra is flowing at 22,545 cusecs, indicating a medium-level flood, while at the super passage the discharge is 14,511 cusecs, considered a low-level flood.
In a related incident, the Hanjliwala Bridge on Nullah Dek along the Chawinda-Zafarwal Road, located in Narowal district, collapsed in the morning due to heavy water pressure. District authorities placed all departments on high alert to deal with any potential flooding situation. The district control room remains operational 24 hours a day.
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