KEY POINTS
- “Very heavy rainfall” forecast triggers fears of more flooding in already-devastated areas
- NDMA issues high-alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall across Punjab and Islamabad
- Districts including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, and Multan are at risk of urban flooding
- Authorities warn that Head Marala may breach, intensifying flood flows in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab
- Over 2 million people have already been affected by the ongoing floods
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a high alert for Punjab and Islamabad, warning of more heavy rainfall from September 1 to 3 that could trigger fresh flooding in areas already devastated by the monsoon.
According to the NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC), a new wave of monsoon downpours, fed by a well-marked low-pressure system over northwest Rajasthan and a westerly trough over northern Pakistan, is expected to unleash widespread rain, potentially escalating the already critical flood situation.
Districts on the edge
The districts on red alert include Murree, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Chiniot, Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Sheikhupura, and Faisalabad.
Southern Punjab regions such as Multan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, and Rahim Yar Khan are also expected to be hit hard.
Authorities say the water level at Head Marala, a critical junction in the river system, is rising steadily and could soon overflow, triggering very high flows in the Rivers Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, and associated nullahs.
“A brewing storm,” warns NDMA
“This is not just another spell of rain; it’s a brewing storm with the potential to cause urban flooding, river overflows, and further displacement,” the NDMA said in a statement.
The NDMA has urged local governments to activate emergency protocols, deploy drainage machinery, and warn residents of low-lying areas to evacuate if necessary.
Citizens have been strongly advised to stay indoors, avoid crossing bridges, flooded roads, and nullahs, and follow safety advisories to prevent further loss of life.
Human toll and humanitarian crisis
The warning comes as the country grapples with historic flooding. At least 33 lives were lost over the past week in Punjab alone, and more than 2 million people have been affected.
According to PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia, over 2,200 villages are underwater, and 750,000 residents have been evacuated so far.
Nationwide, the monsoon has claimed more than 840 lives since late June, while destroying critical infrastructure, damaging crops, and flattening thousands of homes.
With waterlogged fields, overwhelmed rivers, and millions displaced, the next 72 hours could determine whether Pakistan can hold the line or plunge deeper into crisis.
