• Suspended traffic between Quetta and Punjab, KP
• Major flooding expected in Punjab rivers, residents to be relocated
LAHORE/QUETTA: As rain continued to lash parts of Punjab on Thursday, at least 18 more deaths were reported across the province, while heavy rains in Balochistan triggered flash floods and brought traffic to a standstill on key roads.
In Punjab, the death toll in the past two days due to a torrential monsoon rose to 27. Unlike on Wednesday, the severity of the rain was almost negligible in Lahore, with most of the 16 Monitoring Agency points Water and Sanitation (Wasa) registering only one digit of rain. However, four more deaths were reported in the provincial capital, bringing the total to 12 in the past two days.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) data, six people lost their lives in Gujranwala. Chakwal and Sheikhupura each reported three deaths, with one person dying in Jhang and another in Faisalabad. In addition, 49 people were injured, 32 of them seriously and 17 with minor injuries. On Thursday it rained in 13 districts in the province and Met officials said the rain would spread across the province for the next 48 hours and the severity of the spell would also intensify.
A Department of Metrology forecast said a deep trough from the westerly wave coupled with a strong incursion of monsoon currents would result in "widespread to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy falls" in scattered locations over the upper river basins. Sutlej, Ravi and Chenab. and to some extent over the Jhelum river.
Due to these conditions, “very high to exceptionally high flooding is expected in Chenab.” The flood situation in Ravi and Sutlej will depend on the release of water from India. High to very high flooding is also expected in Ravi and Chenab nullahs, he added.
The PDMA participated in an emergency meeting to assess the possible danger and ordered the district administration to relocate residents living along the rivers to safer areas. The administrative authorities of the districts situated along the rivers (Ravi, Chenab, Sutlej and Jhelum) were instructed to identify suitable places to set up relief camps in case of any emergency.
Shahid Abbas of the Metrology Department said that Friday (today) would remain wet, but it may not be as threatening as the previous 48 hours. However, Saturday and Sunday would receive similar spells as Wednesday creating hard and fast urban flooding and Lahore may have a repeat of what happened on Wednesday.
The rains, which are largely confined to the upper and central parts of the province, would spread south and beyond, covering the entire province.
Provincial authorities fear flash floods in Dera Ghazi Khan and adjoining areas due to hill torrents entering the province from the Baluchistan hills putting all the towns and cities lying on the foothills of these mountains at risk. .
Flash floods in Balochistan
Meanwhile, the Balochistan disaster management authority issued a high alert to deal with monsoon rains that began to hit different areas of the province, causing flash floods and traffic suspension on some roads linking the province with Sindh and Punjab.
“We have issued directives to all deputy commissioners regarding possible damage due to flash floods in seasonal streams and rivers and have dispatched the necessary relief items to provide immediate relief,” PDMA Director General Jahanzeb Khan said here on Thursday.
Heavy downpours with gusty winds and thunderstorms were reported Wednesday in Sibi, Kalat, Zhob, Barkhan, Loralai, Musakhail, Awaran, Khuzdar, Nasirabad and Lasbela districts. Traffic between Quetta and Sibi was suspended in Bolan, when a flash flood hit the Quetta-Sibi highway near the Pingra bridge. “Flood water flowed over the bridge which suspended all types of traffic and a large number of buses, passenger coaches, trucks and other vehicles were trapped on both sides of the bridge.
Authorities said heavy rains were reported in Harnai, Ziarat and Sanjavi, the catchment areas of the Bolan and Nari Gaj rivers. However, concerned officials reached the site making efforts to restore traffic between Quetta and Sibi. Bolan and Sibi authorities asked people to avoid traveling due to rain and flash floods.
Highways linking Punjab and DI Khan and Islamabad were also affected due to monsoon rains that hit Zhob and Sherani districts. Power supply was affected in Sibi, Nasirabad and other areas in eastern Balochistan.
In Nasirabad, Deputy Commissioner Ayesha Zehri visited the buffer strips (dykes) around Dear Murad Jamali and Pat Feeder Canal as flash flooding was expected in the area after heavy rains in Lehri and Dera Bugti.
Parts of Khuzdar also received heavy rains with strong winds which caused a flash flood in the Mola river which will affect Jhal Magsi and Nasirabad districts. These districts were the most affected during the floods last year.
According to an official, a letter for the enforcement of Section 144 in the affected areas has been issued to the deputy commissioners. It should be remembered that torrential rains followed by flash floods wreaked havoc in parts of the province, causing huge human and capital losses in 2023.
Published in Alba, July 7, 2023
