Web Desk: PDMA have placed Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on heightened alert as a new spell of monsoon weather is expected to bring rain, thunderstorms and strong winds through Aug. 15.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has directed district administrations to remain prepared for weather-related emergencies, while authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have ordered precautionary measures in vulnerable areas.
Officials have warned that heavy rainfall could trigger urban flooding, flash floods and landslides in several parts of the two provinces.
The Punjab PDMA said most districts could receive rainfall ranging from light to heavy, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds, during the forecast period.
Rain and thunderstorms are expected in Murree, Sialkot, Narowal, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad and Wazirabad, while other districts including Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Jhang, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan could also experience rain.
Authorities have identified several major cities as particularly vulnerable to urban flooding. These include Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Multan.
Meanwhile, heavy rain could cause flash flooding in vulnerable areas, while Murree, Galiyat and other mountainous locations face an increased risk of landslides.
The PDMA has separately issued a weather warning for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, forecasting rain and thunderstorms in northern, central and southern parts of the province through Aug. 15.
Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Battagram, Mansehra and Abbottabad are among the areas expected to receive rainfall.
The forecast also covers Mardan, Swabi, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Khyber, Mohmand and Kurram.
Officials said mountainous areas could experience landslides, while low-lying parts of Mardan and Swabi could face urban flooding.
In Punjab, commissioners and deputy commissioners have been instructed to maintain a high state of preparedness and take preventive measures in cities at risk of flooding.
Health, irrigation, communications and works, local government and livestock departments have also been placed on alert.
Similarly, authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been directed to monitor rivers, streams and drainage channels and ensure that roads and waterways remain clear.
The measures are intended to reduce the impact of flooding and other hazards as the monsoon spell develops.
Authorities have urged residents to remain indoors or move to safe locations during severe rain, thunderstorms and strong winds.
People have also been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from rivers, streams, drains and areas where rainwater accumulates.
Tourists have been warned against unnecessary travel to mountainous regions and told to maintain a safe distance from waterways.
The Punjab PDMA also cautioned residents against approaching weakened, mud-built or dilapidated structures, which officials said can become particularly dangerous during heavy rain and strong winds.
Authorities urged the public to follow official weather and emergency advisories as the latest monsoon spell continues.
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