NDMA Forecasts More Heavy Monsoon Spells Ahead, Issues Flood and Landslide Warning

Islamabad: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued an emergency alert after relentless monsoon rains pushed rivers in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to dangerous levels, submerging villages, destroying crops, and unleashing deadly flash floods and landslides.

According to official figures, the ongoing monsoon, which began on June 26, has so far claimed at least 657 lives and left nearly 1,000 injured across Pakistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains the worst-hit province, recording 370 fatalities, many of them caused by sudden cloudbursts and flash floods in districts including Buner, Swat, Bajaur, and Shangla.

Rising River Levels in Punjab

Authorities reported rising water levels in the Indus River at Jinnah and Chashma barrages in Mianwali, warning of moderate flooding. Several districts of Punjab — Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Sialkot, and Bahawalpur — are bracing for more rain and possible cloudbursts. In Chakwal, low-lying areas have already been inundated following hours of relentless downpours, disrupting power supply and leaving residents stranded.

Forecast: More Heavy Spells Ahead

The NDMA’s National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) forecasted two to three additional heavy monsoon spells through mid-September, cautioning that rainfall intensity may be 50–60% higher than normal. The system currently remains active in northern Punjab, Malakand, Swat, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sindh, and Balochistan, increasing the risk of flash floods, urban flooding, and landslides.

Warnings from PMD

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a flood and landslide warning for multiple regions, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, the Potohar region, Dera Ghazi Khan, Koh-e-Suleman, and northeastern Balochistan. Urban flooding is feared in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Nowshera, while several districts of Sindh may experience severe waterlogging.

The PMD further cautioned about possible landslides in Murree, Galiyat, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Kashmir, urging travelers and tourists to exercise extreme caution.

Sindh and Balochistan on High Alert

In Sindh, major cities including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, and Mirpur Khas are preparing for thunderstorms, while in Balochistan, districts such as Zhob, Khuzdar, Dera Bugti, and Lasbela have also been placed on high alert for heavy rainfall.

Infrastructure and Livelihoods at Risk

With more downpours predicted, authorities fear further devastation to lives, crops, livestock, and fragile infrastructure. Vulnerable structures, including mud houses, electricity poles, and billboards, remain at high risk of collapse as the monsoon system intensifies.

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