LAHORE (Dunya News) – Heavy rain lashed Lahore and its adjoining areas in early hours of Saturday.
The showers made the weather somewhat pleasant but disrupted the power supply leading to agonising experience for people in many areas. Low-lying areas turned puddles.
The Met office forecast more rain in the city during the next 24 hours (Saturday-Sunday).
On Friday, Islamabad and Rawalpindi also had downpour, triggering warning of urban flooding. The district administration issued an alert and directed rescue teams to be on their toes for quick response in case of any emergency.
Earlier, a brief spell of rain in several parts of Lahore and adjoining areas provided relief to the weather-beaten people. It proclaimed the onset of monsoon.
Rain – light to moderate – was reported from Lakshmi Chowk, Shimla Pahari, Davies Road, The Mall, Chowburji, Mozang, Ferozepur Road and Ichhra.
People rejoiced at the showers of relief which brought the temperature down and mitigated sultry conditions.
The Met office said Friday’s temperature in Lahore would hover around 30 degrees Celsius – a drastic cut from the dreaded 40s which stretches human endurance to its limits. It was same on Saturday, with forecast of more rains.
The weather monitor recorded 18-kilometre an hour wind speed and 70pc humidity. The rain, as usual, had its downside. Some of the areas, residential and commercial, faced electricity breakdown or erratic supply.
A few days earlier, rain and wind made weather pleasant in several parts of Karachi which has been reeling under intense heat for quite some time. It also rained in Umarkot and Tharparkar.
The country has been in the grip of hot and sultry weather conditions, with temperatures soaring past 45 degrees Celsius in most parts.
Back then the Met department forecast rains in parts of the country from June 26 to July 1.
IMPENDING FLASH FLOODS, URBAN FLOODING
As the rains proclaim the onset of monsoon, the PMD has warned that torrential rains may cause flash floods, urban flooding and landslides in the vulnerable areas from July 5 to 7.
Torrential rains will cause flash floods in drains or streams of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Dir, Swat, Kashmir and hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan, it says.
Downpours, officials say, may cause urban flooding in Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Narowal, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Peshawar during the period.
Landslides may disrupt traffic at the vulnerable points of hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to the synoptic situation, strong monsoon currents from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are penetrating upper and central parts of the country. A westerly wave is also affecting upper parts of the country.
WHERE WILL IT RAIN?
Rain-wind/thundershower with isolated heavy falls is expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Potohar region, Islamabad, upper/central Punjab, northeast Balochistan and Kashmir.
Rain-wind/thundershower is also likely at isolated places in Gilgit-Baltistan and Punjab.
During the last 24 hours (Thursday), hot and humid weather prevailed over most parts of the country. However, rain-wind/thundershower occurred in Islamabad, Pothohar region, northeast Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Barkhan.
NDMA ADVISORY
The National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) of NDMA forecast rains and floods in many areas of the country. According to a report, in case of possible release of water from India, the flow of water in the rivers is likely to rise further.
It also issued a warning to the public to avoid crossing flooded areas, while tourists and travellers in particular should be watchful.
FLOOD ALERT
The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) on Wednesday reported that a medium to high level flood was expected in rivers Jhelum, Chenab and Kabul from July 4 to 7.
According to the FFD, the river Kabul at Nowshera was in medium flood whereas all the major rivers were flowing below low flood level.
It added that flows were also likely to increase in the drains of Ravi and Chenab. “Urban flooding risk persists in Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Narowal, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Peshawar,” says FFD.