ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a nationwide alert warning of heavy monsoon rains, flash floods, river surges, and urban flooding in several parts of the country from July 19 to 23.
According to the NDMA, an intense monsoon system combined with a strong westerly weather pattern is expected to affect Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and upper Punjab between July 20 and 23, bringing torrential rainfall to some areas.
The weather system could trigger flash floods and cause hill torrents to overflow.
The authority said there is a risk of high flood flows in the Chenab River at Marala and the upper reaches of the Jhelum River at Mangla.
Water levels are also expected to rise in the Kabul River and its tributaries, particularly the Panjkora, Swat, and Chitral rivers, increasing the likelihood of flooding.
The NDMA warned that flash flooding is possible in Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Muridke, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Murree, Galliyat, Lower Chitral, Upper and Lower Dir, Malakand, Shangla, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Gilgit-Baltistan, and several areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
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The authority also highlighted a significant risk of urban flooding in low-lying areas of Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Lahore, and Sheikhupura, among other cities.
The NDMA has directed all relevant departments to keep emergency machinery and rescue teams on high alert and urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel during the forecast period.
Residents have also been advised to stay away from rain-fed streams, submerged roads, riverbanks, and areas vulnerable to landslides.
The authority encouraged the public to rely on the Pak NDMA Disaster Alert App for official updates, weather information, and safety advisories.