ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a high alert across the country, predicting severe weather activities during the next 12 to 24 hours, including strong winds, gales, thundershowers, hailstorms, snowfall and the possibility of flooding in some areas.
According to the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) of the NDMA, a powerful westerly wind system is entering from the southwestern part of Balochistan and affecting most parts of the country, due to which intermittent rains are likely to continue in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
The authorities have warned that the risk of glacial lake outburst floods, landslides and overflowing of storm drains has increased due to continuous rains and snowfall in the northern and mountainous areas. Flash floods have been reported locally, especially in the areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, Swat, Dir, Chitral, Kalam, Mansehra and Abbottabad.
Heavy rain and wind with thunder is also expected in various cities of Punjab including the federal capital Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Jhelum, Chakwal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan and Bahawalpur, while there is a risk of urban flooding in low-lying areas.
Heavy rain and storm winds have also been predicted in Karachi, Hyderabad, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal and Mirpurkhas in Sindh, while Quetta, Zhob, Ziarat, Pishin, Chaman and Qila Saifullah in Balochistan.
The NDMA has issued instructions to the district administration and rescue agencies to remain on high alert, keep drainage machinery immediately operational and complete emergency measures.
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