Punjab PDMA says rainfall continued across the province, with Murree recording the highest at 48mm
Commuters travel in Lahore amid moderate rain. The Met Office predicted similar conditions for the next 24 hours. Photo: Online
KARACHI/
LAHORE:
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued an early warning for Karachi on Saturday, stating that another westerly wave is likely to enter Balochistan from April 5.
Under its influence, rain is expected in city and several districts of Sindh on April 6. Wind-thunderstorms with rain, including moderate to isolated heavy falls and isolated hailstorms, are likely in Sukkur, Kashmore and Ghotki districts.
Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms is also expected in Jamshoro, Dadu, Kambar Shahdadkot, Naushahro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Matiari, Hyderabad, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal and Karachi Division.
The met department warned that strong winds, lightning and hail may damage vulnerable structures.
Karachi recorded its heaviest 24-hour rainfall on Thursday, breaking a 41-year-old record, the PMD confirmed on Friday. The city received 38.6 millimetres of rain, surpassing the previous record of 37.0 millimetres set in 1985.
Rainfall began on the morning of Thursday under the influence of a western weather system. By the afternoon, heavy downpours had left streets waterlogged, bringing a marked drop in temperature and making the city’s weather cooler and more pleasant.
Light to heavy spells of rain persisted in some areas for over an hour, and in certain localities, torrential rainfall caused urban flooding. Thick clouds darkened the city even in the afternoon, while hail was reported in areas including Mauripur and Clifton. The Meteorological Department has forecasted partly to fully cloudy skies with light to moderate rain for Friday.
Also Read: Karachi breaks 41-year rainfall record with 38.6mm downpour
Meanwhile, rainfall continued across Punjab in the past 24 hours, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Saturday. The highest rainfall during this period was recorded in Murree at 48mm, a PDMA spokesperson added.
In Dera Ghazi Khan district, Fort Munro received 40mm of rain, while Vehova recorded 11mm. In Rawalpindi, rainfall was recorded at 40mm in Shamsabad, 35mm in Chaklala and 31mm in Kattarian.
Attock recorded 35mm of rain, Faisalabad 33mm and Sargodha city 25mm, the spokesperson said.
In other areas, Gujrat received 24mm of rain, while Mangla and Joharabad recorded 22mm each, and Chakwal 21mm.
In Lahore, 8mm of rain was recorded in the airport area and 3mm in the city.
Rainfall, both light and heavy, was also reported in southern Punjab districts, including Multan, Bahawalpur and Layyah.
PDMA director general ordered all relevant departments to remain on alert and advised citizens to stay in safe places during thunderstorms and lightning.
Read More: Rain havoc kills 26 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
At least 26 people, including 18 children, have been killed and 77 others injured in rain-related incidents across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa since March 25, PDMA reported on Friday.
The fatalities occurred when roofs and walls of houses collapsed due to heavy downpours that have battered several parts of the province. Among the deceased were 18 children, three men and five women. The injured include 33 men, nine women and 35 children, according to the PDMA’s latest update.
The authority said a total of 102 houses have been damaged so far. Of these, 82 suffered partial damage while 20 were completely destroyed.
The incidents were reported from various districts including Bannu, Abbottabad, Kohat, Peshawar, Nowshera, Bajaur, Lakki Marwat, Kurram, Hangu, Shangla, Buner, Malakand, Upper Dir, Battagram, North Waziristan and Tank.
