Hundreds remain stranded as authorities warn of widespread heavy rain in Punjab
WATER EVERYWHERE: Rescuers navigate submerged streets to evacuate residents of Pathan Colony in Ferozewala Tehsil. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE’:
LAHORE
A fresh monsoon expected to hit Punjab from Wednesday (today) has raised fears of urban flooding, flash floods and landslides even as dozens of villages in Ferozewala tehsil remain submerged after rising water levels in streams left hundreds of families stranded.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast widespread rain and thunderstorms in Punjab and other parts of the country from July 29 to August 5, with scattered heavy to very heavy rain expected in several districts.
According to meteorological experts, monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are likely to penetrate the upper and central parts of the country, while a westerly wave affecting the northern areas is expected to strengthen from August 1.
According to the forecast, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galliyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Okara, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, Khushab, are likely to Mianwali, Layyah, Bhakkar, Noorpur Thal, Sargodha, Sahiwal and Pakpattan receive rains at occasional intervals till August 4, while southern districts including Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, Vehari, Khanewal, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur are expected to receive rains from July 31 to 31. August 3.
The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has ordered provincial departments and district administrations to remain on high alert, warning of possible urban flooding in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Faisalabad and Multan.
The PDMA has also warned that Murree, Galliyat and other hilly areas could experience landslides, while flash floods may occur in local streams and nullahs in Kashmir, northeast Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, along with hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and northeast Balochistan.
PDMA Director General Umar Mela directed commissioners and deputy commissioners to ensure advance preparations, saying the rains could increase water flows in eastern rivers and adjoining nullahs.
Citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel during adverse weather conditions, stay away from mud and dilapidated houses, seek shelter during storms and keep children away from low-lying areas, standing water, electric wires and poles.
Punjab Housing Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal also directed all Water and Sanitation Agencies (WASAs) to remain on high alert during the planned period. Officials have been directed to maintain close coordination with district administrations, ensure disposal stations, pumps and machinery remain fully operational and keep field staff deployed during monsoons.
Authorities have also been ordered to implement safety measures at construction sites by cordoning off open pits and installing barriers and warning signs.
The warning comes as floods continued to hit Ferozewala tehsil, where dozens of villages were inundated after an embankment along the seasonal course of the Bhir Nullah burst. According to the PDMA, the flow of the Ravi River in Shahdara remains within the normal range, but flooding from seasonal streams has submerged dozens of villages and settlements under several feet of water. Officials said continued rains have further raised water levels, intensifying residents’ concerns.
The flooding worsened after water levels rose another two to three feet, separating Pathan Colony from Lahore’s GT Road and leaving hundreds of families stranded in flooded houses. At least three children have died in flood-related incidents, while several meters of water has submerged Rachna Town, Rana Town, Pathan Colony, Kot Abdul Malik, suburban areas of Kala Shah Kaku, Muradpur and Jamke Cheema.
Residents said flood water entered residential areas after protective embankments were breached or overtopped by seasonal flooding of streams, forcing many families to move women, children and the elderly to safer places, while some men stayed behind to protect their homes.
“Electricity has remained suspended in the area for the past four days as the flood water continues to rise,” said Muhammad Riaz, a resident of Pathan Colony. He said his family had moved to relatives’ house, but he stayed to protect the house’s belongings from possible theft.
Rashidan Bibi said the floods had destroyed most of his possessions. “My life savings are gone and there’s no help from the government in sight,” he said.
Abdul Rehman said flood water suddenly entered the neighborhood overnight, forcing families to hastily flee and abandon much of their belongings, while Muhammad Saleem of Rachna town said water levels had shown no signs of receding, paralyzing daily life and creating shortages of food and drinking water.
Rescue and relief operations continue with Rescue 1122 and other welfare organizations using boats to evacuate stranded residents and distribute cooked food, dry rations, drinking water and other essential supplies.
However, residents complained that despite official claims of monitoring the flood situation using drones, they had not been warned in time and alleged that losses could have been reduced if seasonal drains had been cleared and encroachments removed before the monsoon.
They also said that no senior government or district administration officials had yet visited the affected localities and warned that the forecast of fresh monsoon rains could significantly worsen flooding in already inundated areas.
