ISLAMABAD: A fresh and intense spell of monsoon rains continued to lash Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department warning of urban flooding, flash floods, and landslides in vulnerable areas.
According to PMD, monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal entered upper and central Pakistan from July 29. A westerly wave strengthening from August 1 is expected to further intensify rainfall across most of upper and central parts of the country. Islamabad & Rawalpindi received showers between 2:00 am and 5:00 am today, along with Rawalpindi, Murree and other parts of Punjab.
PMD has forecast rain-wind and thundershowers with scattered heavy falls and at times very heavy rainfall in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree and Galliyat until August 4. Officials warned of urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi during the forecast period. Windstorms and lightning may also damage solar panels, electricity poles and billboards.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP is seeing widespread rain, windstorms, and thundershowers. Districts expected to receive rain include Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Chitral, Battagram, Buner, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Peshawar, Hangu, Kurram and Waziristan.PMD has issued a moderate weather warning for rain thundershowers with heavy falls predicted in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The department cautioned that heavy rainfall could trigger landslides in vulnerable areas of upper KP, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir, and cause flash flooding in local streams and nullahs. The current spell is expected to continue till August 5.
PMD has advised tourists to avoid unnecessary travel to hilly areas and urged residents of low-lying areas to stay alert for possible urban and flash flooding. Authorities in Islamabad and KP have put rescue teams on standby. Citizens have been advised to stay away from nullahs and weak structures and to drive carefully during rain and gusty winds.
Read also: Heavy monsoon rains trigger widespread destruction across Pakistan: NDMA
