Monsoon's new spell to cause flash, urban flooding in parts of country

Lahore: Amid the ongoing monsoon spell, widespread downpours have occurred in many cities, with record-breaking rainfall in Multan, where 150 millimeters were recorded on Tuesday.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast more rains from August 27 to August 31, with occasional gaps throughout the country. On Tuesday, the PMD informed that a deep depression lies north of Gujrat (India) and surrounding areas, and is moving westward. Due to this depression, strong monsoon currents are penetrating most parts of the country, and a trough of westerly wave is affecting the upper parts.

Yesterday, Lahore received moderate rain in scattered places, which made the weather pleasant. While this evening rain helped reduce humidity, it also caused problems for commuters on the roads.

Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds lashed parts of Karachi on Monday night. Rain showers with gusty winds hit Malir Cantt and adjoining areas, with thunderstorms, strong winds, and drizzle recorded in the airport area.

PMD Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz warned that heavy downpours are expected in Karachi from tonight and will continue for the next three to four days. He stated, "The monsoon system is expected to grow stronger after August 28, with Karachi possibly receiving as much as 150-200 millimeters of rain."

In its new advisory, the PMD also warned that heavy downpours may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Sahiwal, Okara, Pakpattan, Nowshera, and Peshawar from August 27 to 31.

"Heavy rains may trigger landslides in Murree, Galliyat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, hilly areas of Balochistan, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Waziristan during this period," said the PMD.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a high alert for the DG Khan and Rajanpur districts, where torrential rains may generate flash flooding in local nullahs due to hill torrents during this period.