Fresh monsoon system starts affecting flood-hit Punjab

ISLAMABAD: With the Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej rivers continue ravaging Punjab, monsoon clouds started developing in central and southern Punjab, producing thunderstorms and heavy rain in Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Khanewal and nearby areas on Friday afternoon.

Read more: Extremely high flood in Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej submerges more areas

Latest satellite images at 5:30pm showed dark clouds over central, southern and northeastern Punjab as well as some parts of eastern Balochistan.

Meanwhile, scattered downpour also lashed Lahore and other parts of northeastern Punjab.

On the other hand, thunderstorm and rain with strong winds started lashing Kotli, Rawalakot, Rajouri and other parts of Kashmir as well as parts of Islamabad and Sialkot later in the evening.

Northeastern Punjab — including Narowal and Sialkot along with Kasur further south — is one of the worst affected areas due to the overflowing Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab.

Meanwhile, clouds are also visible over Occupied Kashmir and the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand — the catchment areas of Jhelum and Chenab rivers in the west, and Ravi and Sutlej in the west.

Authorities have already warned that the latest monsoon spell will produce heavy rains in the catchment areas of the Jhelum River, while a similar forecast is available for Ravi and Sutlej — a development that would lead to further deteriorate the already worsening flood situation in the plains of Punjab and some days later in Sindh.

On Friday, the Met Office in its evening daily report said heavy rainfall could generate flash floods in local nullahs/streams of Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Nowshera, Swabi, Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, northeast Punjab, Kashmir and Dera Ghazi Khan.

At the same time, there is also urban flooding threat in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Peshawar, Nowshera and Mardan on Friday night and Saturday.

It’s a developing story. Details to follow