The National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) has issued a warning of potential urban flooding and flash floods due to moderate to heavy rainfall expected until July 9. This alert covers the northern regions of Punjab, particularly Sialkot, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K).
In a statement released on Thursday, the NDMA highlighted that northeastern Punjab, especially the eastern rivers’ catchment areas, Potohar, KP, southern Sindh, AJ&K, and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), are at risk. The heavy precipitation may cause rapid rises in water levels in streams, leading to flash flooding across these regions.
The NDMA’s forecast also indicates a significant impact on the eastern rivers. The Sutlej River is expected to experience a low flood stage with approximately 50,000 cusecs of water, while the Kabul River could reach a medium flood level with around 95,000 cusecs.
The conditions are expected to persist until July 9, with extreme rainfall potentially prompting additional releases from Indian reservoirs, including Salal, Bhakra, and Pong Dam, which could directly affect the Chenab and Sutlej rivers.
Additionally, NEOC has predicted moderate to heavy rainfall in Gilgit-Baltistan until July 8, posing a risk of flash flooding in local drains. Areas such as Chigar and Khaplu are particularly vulnerable during heavy rains. Slightly heavy rainfall is also anticipated in Gilgit-Baltistan, KP, northern parts of Balochistan, and AJ&K until July 8, 2024.
The continuous heavy to moderate rains may trigger localized landslides along the Karakoram Highway, particularly in areas like Hunza and District Nagar. Regions including Gilgit, Diamir, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra, and Abbottabad may also experience landslides, potentially disrupting traffic flows and isolating remote areas from main roads.
