With the country facing both extreme heat and the early arrival of heavy monsoon rains, authorities have issued multiple warnings and called for emergency readiness in various areas.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has declared a five-day heatwave alert for Punjab, placing the region under increased observation as high temperatures sweep across numerous districts.
At the same time, warnings have been issued regarding potential widespread flooding due to the approaching rains.
Southern Punjab has been placed under a “Heatwave Emergency,” impacting cities like Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, and Multan.
In Central Punjab, covering Lodhran, Vehari, Khanewal, Toba Tek Singh, Faisalabad, and Jhang, a “Hot Day Warning” has been announced.
Meanwhile, Lahore, Gujranwala, and Sheikhupura in the northeast are under a “Hot Day Alert,” with residents continuing to endure harsh conditions.
The PMD’s latest update reported that in the last 24 hours, cities such as Mohenjo-Daro, Jacobabad, and Shaheed Benazirabad in Sindh, along with Sibi in Balochistan, recorded temperatures hitting 48°C.
Other areas, including Dera Ghazi Khan, Dadu, Larkana, and Turbat, followed closely at 47°C. “A persistent high-pressure system has fuelled the extremely dry and hot weather across much of the country’s low-lying areas.”
In addition to the heat, the monsoon forecast suggests above-normal rainfall from July to September, especially in central and southern areas.
North-eastern Punjab and parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir are also expected to receive heavier-than-usual rain, raising concerns about urban flooding in major cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, and Karachi.
The threat of flash floods is being monitored in mountainous areas, although northern regions like Gilgit-Baltistan and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are expected to receive less rain than usual.
A new weather system is expected to bring thunderstorms, strong winds, and possible hailstorms to the upper parts of the country, with warnings about potential damage to infrastructure like power poles, solar panels, trees, and vehicles.
Rescue 1122 reported that a child lost his life and five others were injured in Bahadurgaon, Attock district. In Jasian village, a girl was hurt in a wall collapse, and in Rawalpindi, two individuals went into shock after a lightning strike.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four people were reported dead and 10 injured due to rain-related incidents across different districts.