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- Monsoon currents from Arabian Sea likely to remain in country’s upper parts till July 16, says disaster management authority
- Heavy rains may trigger landslides and mudslides in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, it says
ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a fresh warning on Tuesday that monsoon currents, which are likely to remain in the upper parts of the country till July 16, may trigger flash floods and landslides in various areas of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s meteorological department has forecast heavy rains during the monsoon seas in July. The NDMA warned last month that torrential rains could trigger an “emergency” situation in Sindh and Punjab provinces.
Pakistan is recognized as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change effects in the world. Unusually heavy rains in June 2022 triggered flash floods in many parts of the country, killing over 1,700 people, inflicting losses of around $30 billion, and affecting at least 30 million people. In a press release, the NDMA said monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea entered the upper parts of the country from July 8 and are likely to remain till July 16.
“Under influence of said system, rainfall may trigger landslides/mudslides in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Galiyat, Murree and state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir,” the NDMA said. “In Balochistan, rainfall may cause flash flooding in local nullahs, hill torrents may be triggered in Sulaiman and Kirthar Ranges.”
The disaster management authority warned that rainfall could generate flash and urban flooding in municipalities, nullahs, streams and river tributaries across the country.
“There is also a risk of lightning strikes in parts of country,” the NDMA said.
The authority advised provincial disaster management authorities and local administrations to monitor the situation closely and take measures to safeguard at-risk populations.
“People dwelling in low-lying areas are advised to take extra caution and undertake emergency preparation in view of potential urban flooding,” it said.
Last week, the NDMA launched a community engagement app ahead of the monsoon season. The ‘Pak NDMA Disaster Alert’ mobile app will generate alerts and update guidance for organizations and individual responders in national and provincial languages with audio and video formats, Pakistan’s state media had said.
It said the alerts would help people and responders to implement disaster management plans, keeping them ahead of the crises before they strike.
“The public is urged to download NDMA’s ‘Pak NDMA Disaster Alert’ mobile app for timely disaster alerts, guidelines and precautionary measures,” the NDMA said.