Rain in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as NDMA issues flood warning

ISLAMABAD: Parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa received thunderstorm and rain on Tuesday evening as the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned for heavy downpour in upper and central Pakistan, which could trigger flash floods and generate urban flooding amid strengthening monsoon currents and an approaching westerly.

Latest satellite images around 7pm showed clouds developing over Peshawar, Kohat and Malakand divisions, which were moving towards upper Punjab in southeast direction.

According to the NDMA and Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), upper and central Pakistan will receive more rain/thundershower with isolated heavyfalls from August 5 (Tuesday) to 8 (Friday).

The latest advisory comes as heavy monsoon rains are active over northwestern India for the past few days. On Tuesday, Uttarakhand witnessed a deadly flash flood.

Read more: Over 50 missing, four dead as flash flood hits Indian village

Pakistan too have witnessed many deaths since late June during the current monsoon season, including Babusar flashflood that claimed 20 lives.

Meanwhile, the continuous rains in northwestern India may create a flood-like situation in the two eastern rivers — Sutlej and Beas. Floodwaters are already rising in Sutlej River and villages in Kasur may soon be affected in case further increase in waterflow.

MONSOON CURRENTS PLUS WESTERLY

The Met Office says monsoon currents are penetrating the upper half of Pakistan. A fresh westerly wave is also expected to affect upper parts of the country from Tuesday night.

It means the combination of two could generate extreme weather events — very heavy rainfall — in some areas. The two recent cloudburst in Babusar and Chakwal are an example, with 423mm of rains recorded in the latter in just a few hours.

A cloudburst requires rainfall rate of at least 100mm per hour.

That’s why it is warned that heavy rainfall is expected to increase in waterflow nullah and streams in Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Murree, Galliyat, Ghanche, Shagar and Kashmir.

Similarly, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, and Sialkot are at the risk of urban flooding.

On the other hand, low to medium flood is also expected in Chenab, Jhelum and Kabul rivers.