ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a flooding alert for Pakistan’s eastern province of Punjab after a heavy monsoon rain killed at least seven people in the provincial capital of Lahore.
At least 24 people have died in weather-related incidents since the pre-monsoon rains began last week, including three who were killed a day earlier in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
The monsoon season officially started this week and will continue until September in the South Asian country. The first spell of rainy weather was expected to last until Saturday.
A deep trough of westerly wave along with strong incursion of monsoon currents may cause very heavy rainfall over the upper catchments of Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum rivers in Punjab, according to the PMD.
“Due to these meteorological conditions, Very High to Exceptionally High level flooding is expected in River Chenab,” it said in a statement.
“Flood situation in Rivers Ravi and Sutlej will depend upon releases from India. High to very High level Flooding is also expected in the Nullah’s of Rivers Ravi and Chenab.”
Pakistan last year witnessed one of the worst floods that submerged a third of the country at one point. The deluges killed more than 1,700 people, affected another 33 million and caused over $30 billion losses.
Lahore received a record 272 millimeters (10.7 inches) of rain in nine hours on Wednesday, flooding streets and the city’s canal. The last time Lahore received such a deluge was 30 years ago, officials said.
Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, also had a heavy downpour this week. The National Disaster Management Authority warned local authorities to prepare for emergencies such as flooding and landslides.
