ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a countrywide alert advising citizens to take precautionary measures as moderate to heavy rainfall is expected to affect most parts of the country over the next three days.
According to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), operating under the NDMA, a three-day weather-impact outlook has been released, predicting widespread rainfall fuelled by moisture inflows from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
As a result, substantial rises in river flows are expected, most notably in the Indus, Kabul, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers.
Currently, the Tarbela, Taunsa, and Guddu barrages are experiencing low flood levels, while Kalabagh and Chashma are at medium flood levels.
Taunsa is projected to rise to a medium flood level, with low to medium water flows expected to continue at various Indus River stations throughout the upcoming week.
The Chenab River at Marala and Khanki is forecasted to reach low flood levels, while the Kabul River at Nowshera is also expected to attain a low flood level. Rain-induced swelling is likely in the Swat and Panjkora rivers, along with their associated streams.
The NDMA has also warned of an increased risk of flash flooding in hill torrent regions of Dera Ghazi Khan and several districts of Balochistan.
Residents in hilly regions such as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Murree, Galliyat, and Gilgit-Baltistan are advised to remain alert for potential land and mudslides, according to the National Weather Forecasting Centre.
IRSA releases 426,671 cusecs water
Meanwhile, the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Friday released 426,671 cusecs of water from various rim stations with an inflow of 455,737 cusecs.
According to the data released by IRSA, the water level in the River Indus at Tarbela Dam was 1523.52 feet, which was 121.52 feet higher than the dead level of 1402.00 feet. Water inflow and outflow in the dam was recorded as 309,100 cusecs and 296,800 cusecs, respectively.
The water level in the River Jhelum at Mangla Dam was 1183.20 feet, which was 133.20 feet higher than its dead level of 1,050 feet. The inflow and outflow of water were recorded 24,766 cusecs and 8,000 cusecs, respectively.
The release of water at Kalabagh, Taunsa, Guddu and Sukkur was recorded as 349,676, 354,685, 229,446 and 118,050 cusecs, respectively. Similarly, from River Kabul, a total of 55,800 cusecs of water released at Nowshera and 39,281 cusecs released from River Chenab at Marala.
Climate change effects
Pakistan is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, and its 255 million residents are facing extreme weather events with increasing frequency.
The country is facing increasingly frequent and intense weather events such as heat waves, droughts, and torrential rains.
According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Pakistan contributes less than 1 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, which is insignificant when compared to developed nations.
In 2022, a combination of heavy monsoon rains and glacial melt caused catastrophic floods that killed more than 1,700 people and caused damage estimated at over $33 billion.
