The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has released a monsoon flood fact sheet, cautioning that heavy rainfall and potential flash floods are expected across the province within the next 24 hours.
Over the last day, rainfall has been recorded in Murree, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, and Bahawalpur. Officials from the PDMA have indicated that upper Punjab districts could face intense rainfall and possible cloudbursts.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia has instructed district authorities, especially in high-risk areas, “to remain on high alert.”
The Indus River is currently facing low-level flooding at both Tarbela and Taunsa, and medium-level flooding has been observed at Kalabagh and Chashma.
Meanwhile, the Sutlej River is at a low flood level at Ganda Singh Wala, and the Chenab, Jhelum, and Ravi rivers are all flowing at normal levels.
According to the PDMA, “Tarbela Dam is 98% full and Mangla Dam 68%, while Indian dams have reached 70% capacity.”
People have been urged to take safety measures during the rainy season. They are also advised not to allow children near rivers, streams, or low-lying zones and to remain alert.
No casualties or property damage have been reported in Punjab over the past 24 hours.
In another update, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) PDMA has reported that “at least 307 people have died and 23 sustained injuries across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) during the past 48 hours of heavy rains and flash floods.”
Buner has emerged as the most severely affected district, with 184 deaths. Other affected areas include Shangla with 36 fatalities, Bajaur with 21, Mansehra with 23, Swat with 22, Battagram with 15, Lower Dir with five, and Abbottabad with one.
The PDMA stated that the fatalities consisted of 279 men, 15 women, and 13 children. In addition to the loss of life, infrastructure damage was also reported.
A total of 63 houses were completely destroyed and 74 were partially damaged, with schools and bridges also swept away in different regions.