Latest news with #PakistanMeteorologicalDepartment
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Express Tribune
Rivers stable, but India could trigger floods
Water levels surge in the Indus River at Kotri Barrage as heavy monsoon rains continue to drench large swathes of the country. Authorities remain on alert as upstream flows build pressure across key barrages. PHOTO: APP Pakistan may face potential flooding if India releases water into rivers flowing across the border, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned on Tuesday, amid forecasts of back-to-back monsoon spells and increased Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risk this month. PMD Director General Mahr Sahibzad Khan said that while most rivers in Pakistan remain stable, the Chenab River faces a possible flood threat. The Ravi River, he noted, is currently safe due to available storage in Indian dams. "There's no flood threat in the Jhelum and Sutlej rivers at present, but the Chenab is at risk," Khan told The Express Tribune. "Flooding could occur if India releases excess water. However, our dams currently have sufficient capacity to manage inflows." Khan added that the ongoing monsoon spell would continue until Friday, July 25, followed by another wet spell at the end of the month. He warned that persistent rainfall, especially in northern areas, could heighten flood risks. "The rainfall is improving dam levels, but the threat remains. Another weather system is expected later this month, which may bring more intense rain," he cautioned. Despite its minimal contribution to global carbon emissions, Pakistan remains one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Khan attributed increasing weather unpredictability, cloudbursts, and glacial melt to global climate shifts. "Pakistan's contribution to air pollution is negligible, yet we are among the hardest hit by climate change," he said. "Extreme rainfall and rapid glacier melt are creating hazardous conditions." Addressing recent flooding in Islamabad's Saidpur Village and Chakwal, Khan clarified that these were not cloudburst events. "A cloudburst is defined by over 100mm of rainfall in one hour. In Saidpur, it was prolonged heavy rain over 24 hours," he explained. "The flooding was aggravated by illegal constructions blocking natural drainage channels." "Pakistan's contribution to air pollution is negligible, yet we are among the hardest hit by climate change," he said. "Extreme rainfall and rapid glacier melt are creating hazardous conditions." GLOF Alert The Met Office has issued a high-alert warning for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), where rapid glacier melt and heavy rains threaten to trigger flash floods. "Glacial melt combined with intense rain may cause sudden river surges and flooding in low-lying areas," the Met Department stated in its daily report. It advised all relevant disaster management authorities to remain on high alert.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Climate
- Express Tribune
Heatwave grips in Lahore, monsoon brings rain, flood risks to other regions
A laborer carries sacks of onions while wading through a flooded street after heavy monsoon rains in Lahore on July 16, 2025. Photo: AFP A heatwave and rising humidity have intensified across Lahore and much of Punjab, with dry conditions persisting in most areas. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast a maximum temperature of 34°C and a minimum of 27°C for Lahore as the city experiences elevated temperatures. Although a new monsoon system is expected to enter Pakistan today, Lahore is unlikely to see significant rainfall in immediate days. The fourth monsoon spell is anticipated to be stronger than previous ones and will bring thundershowers, wind, and rain to various regions, including Rawalpindi, Murree, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and parts of southern Punjab. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued an alert for the risk of heavy rainfall and flooding from July 20 to 25, urging local authorities to remain vigilant. River levels in the Ravi, Jhelum, Sutlej, and Chenab are expected to rise, and medium-level flooding is already being reported in the Indus River. To manage the potential impact, provincial agencies such as WASA, LWMC, and local municipalities have mobilised emergency measures to handle flood risks, and authorities have enforced Section 144 around rivers and streams to ensure public safety. Other parts of the country, including Kashmir, Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, North-East Punjab, the Potohar region, Gilgit-Baltistan, North-East and South Balochistan, and South Sindh, are expected to experience rain, wind, and thundershowers over the next twelve hours. In contrast, hot and humid weather will continue to dominate in the rest of the country. Temperatures this morning were recorded in major cities as follows: Islamabad at 28°C, Lahore and Karachi both at 29°C, Peshawar at 30°C, Quetta at 22°C, Gilgit at 24°C, Murree at 17°C, and Muzaffarabad at 25°C. The PDMA has urged the public to stay updated with weather forecasts and follow safety protocols, particularly in flood-prone areas, as rainfall and river rises could pose significant flood risks over the next few days.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
Heavy monsoon rains in Pakistan kill 54 people in 24 hours
Heavy monsoon rains killed at least 54 people in eastern Pakistan in 24 hours, bringing the total rain-related deaths in the country to 178 over the past three weeks, officials said Thursday. Rainfall has triggered flash floods and inundated several villages as the country experiences 82% more rainfall this month compared to the same period in July 2024, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said. Since June 26, Pakistan has reported 178 deaths from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the northwest, Sindh in the south and Balochistan in the southwest, officials said. The 54 deaths in the past day occurred in Punjab province, which received 124% more rainfall between July 1 and July 15 than the same period the previous year, forecasters said. Heavy downpours continued Thursday, flooding streets in several urban areas including Rawalpindi and Lahore. Cloudburst in the Jhelum district in Punjab triggered flash flooding, prompting authorities to use boats to evacuate dozens of people. The National Disaster Management Authority issued an updated flood alert Thursday and urged local officials to remain on high alert. Tourists were advised to avoid travel to affected areas where rains could trigger landslides and block highways. Television news footage Thursday showed an army helicopter plucking three members of a family from the roof of their house after they were stranded by a flash flood on the outskirts of Rawalpindi city. More rain is expected in the capital Islamabad, Pakistan-administered Kashmir and other parts of the country, the meteorological department reported. Authorities have warned they cannot rule out a repeat of extreme weather like the 2022 floods that inundated a third of the country, killing 1,737 people.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
Pakistan reporter ‘swept away' on live TV while covering floods near Chahan Dam; netizen reacts: ‘Thought it was AI gen but…'
A live news report from Rawalpindi took a terrifying turn when a journalist was swept away by raging flood waters while covering the situation near Chahan Dam. The harrowing moment was caught on camera and has since gone viral, shedding light on the growing danger posed by relentless flooding across Pakistan. In the clip, the reporter can be seen waist-deep, and soon neck-deep, in fast-moving water, trying to deliver his report. As the current grows stronger, he struggles to stay upright. With only his head and a hand clutching the microphone visible, he's suddenly dragged under. The video, shared by Al Arabiya English on X, has left viewers shocked. A Pakistani reporter is swept away by strong currents during a live broadcast while covering the floods in neck-deep water.#Pakistan #Floods — Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) July 17, 2025 Social media erupted with reactions soon after. Some applauded the reporter's fearless commitment, calling it a testament to journalistic dedication. Others, however, questioned the judgment behind sending someone into such peril. A user said, 'At first, I thought it was AI gen but then it's Pakistan.' Another user commented, 'Pakistani Journalists go the extra mile. They engulf themselves into the story. They become the story.' A third user wrote, 'This is good goddamn journalism. Others pay attention.' A fourth X user commented, 'This guy needs an award.' Meanwhile, Pakistan continues to reel under torrential monsoon rains. At least 54 people have died in Punjab province, officials confirmed on Thursday, July 17. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, Punjab received 124 per cent more rainfall between July 1 and July 15 compared to the same period last year, overwhelming infrastructure and hampering emergency response. Across the country, flash floods have submerged villages, with meteorologists reporting an 82 per cent increase in rainfall this July compared to 2024, further intensifying the crisis in already vulnerable regions.
Mint
4 days ago
- Climate
- Mint
Pakistan journalist swept away in flood fury on camera, shocking visuals show reporter sucked under water
Pakistan: In a shocking video that's gone viral across social media, a man, reportedly a Pakistani journalist, was swept away by raging floodwaters while on a live broadcast near Chahan Dam in the nation's Rawalpindi. The chilling footage shows the reporter neck-deep in the fast moving waters, microphone still in hand, moments before he's pulled by the gushing current. Multiple videos of the same incident across social media captures the exact moment when the journalist— reportedly identified as Ali Musa Raza — was standing in the water, only his outstretched hand visible, till he is dragged into the waters. Pakistan has been reeling under heavy rains, which wreaked havoc in the eastern region of the nation, killing as many as 54 people in the last 24 hours, officials said on Thursday, July 17. The 54 deaths in the past day occurred in Punjab province, which received 124% more rainfall between July 1 and July 15 than the same period the previous year, forecasters said, reported Associated Press. Not just the deaths, but the incessant rains have also triggered flash floods and inundated several villages as Pakistan experiences 82 per cent more rainfall in July 2025 as compared to the same period in July 2024, AP reported, citing the Pakistan Meteorological Department. Cloudburst in the Jhelum district in Punjab triggered flash flooding, prompting authorities to use boats to evacuate dozens of people. People wade through the flooded street after during the monssoon rain in Rawalpindi, Pakistan July 17, 2025. REUTERS/Waseem Khan The National Disaster Management Authority issued an updated flood alert on Thursday urging local authorities to remain on high alert as heavy rains continue. Tourists were advised to avoid travel to affected areas where rains could trigger landslides and block highways. Commuters wade through a flooded street amidst heavy monsoon rains in Rawalpindi on July 17, 2025. Heavy rains have been linked to 54 deaths in the past 24 hours in Pakistan, taking the toll to about 180 since the arrival of the monsoon in late June, the government's disaster agency said on July 17. (Photo by Farooq NAEEM / AFP) Television news footage Thursday showed an army helicopter plucking three members of a family from the roof of their house after they were stranded by a flash flood on the outskirts of Rawalpindi city. More rain is expected in the capital Islamabad, Pakistan-administered Kashmir and other parts of the country, the meteorological department reported.
