Pakistan’s disaster management agency warns of floods in Sindh and Punjab provinces from next week
ISLAMABAD: Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMA) in Pakistan’s Sindh and Punjab provinces have warned of flash floods in the two provinces from next week amid forecast heavy rains, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday.
Heavy monsoon rains have lashed Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in Pakistan’s northwestern province this week. At least 24 people were killed and 80 injured in Punjab last weekend after heavy rains lashed many parts of the province, according to official figures.
“Disaster management authorities in Punjab and Sindh have warned of heavy monsoon rains from tomorrow through Thursday, which could lead to flash floods in various cities in the two provinces,” Radio Pakistan reported.
A PDMA Punjab spokesperson said flooding is expected in Punjab cities like Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, Tharparkar, Umarkot, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Hyderabad, Tand Mohammad Khan, Tand Allah Yar, Matiari, Qambal, Shahdad Kot, Kashmore, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Ghotki, Sukkur district, Thatta district and Sajawal district of Sindh.
“The spokesman said the PDMA has issued an alert to the administrations of these cities to take necessary precautionary measures,” Radio Pakistan reported.
The spokesman urged the public to follow government instructions and take necessary precautions to avoid any harm.
Pakistan is recognized as one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in the world. Unusually heavy rains in June 2022 caused flash floods in many parts of the country, killing more than 1,700 people, causing losses of approximately $30 billion, and affecting at least 30 million people.