KEY POINTS
- PMD warns of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood risk in Gilgit-Baltistan, KP
- Heavy rainfall, hailstorm likely in hilly areas from Sept 16–19
- Landslide risk flagged for Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, GB
- FFD monitoring major rivers; authorities on high alert
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Alert on Monday, cautioning that expected rain and thunderstorms between September 16 and 19 in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could trigger flash floods and landslides.
The alert, signed by Deputy Director Mehwish Nadeem Butt for the Director General PMD, said the forecast includes “scattered rain-wind/thundershowers with isolated heavy falls,” adding that local communities must remain vigilant and authorities should adopt precautionary measures to safeguard lives and infrastructure.
The PMD’s National Weather Forecasting Centre separately reported that partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with rainfall, windstorms, and isolated hailstorms are likely in Upper Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, with the risk of landslides in Murree, Galliyat, and hilly districts. Maximum temperatures in plain areas are expected to remain hot and dry, with Dalbandin recording 42°C as the country’s highest on Monday.
The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) Lahore stated in its daily bulletin that all major rivers are flowing in the normal range. However, the local nullahs and tributaries in northern regions may swell rapidly during heavy spells. It further noted that the Indus at Tarbela, Kabul at Nowshera, and Jhelum at Mangla are under constant watch to assess any flash flood risk.
“Given the rainfall outlook, precautionary measures are essential in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where past episodes have shown how vulnerable infrastructure and communities are to sudden GLOFs,” an FFD official told local media.
The PMD warned that windstorms and lightning could damage weak structures like kacha houses, electric poles, billboards, vehicles, and solar panels. Travellers and tourists were advised to avoid unnecessary exposure to vulnerable areas during the forecast period.
