NDMA issues an alert for more rains from August 29

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued an alert on Thursday while the Department of Meteorological predicted generalized rain and thunderstorms throughout the country from August 29 to September 2, warning of possible floods and landslides in several regions.

According to the districts of NDMA, Northern and Northeasters of Punjab, including Rawalpindi, Atock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Narowal, Hafizabad and Mandi Bahauddin, it is likely that they will witness strong rains on August 30 and 31, raising flood concerns.

The Central and South Punjab is expected to receive downpours from August 29 to 31, with low areas at risk of flooding. Districts such as fine, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Bhakkar, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan can experience flood conditions.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, heavy rains are expected from August 29 to 31. The divisions of Malakand and Hazara are particularly vulnerable to land landslides, with districts such as Chitral, Dir, Swat, Buner, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat and Bannu of On Alert.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including Muzaffrabad, Bagh, Haveli, Kotli, Mirpur and Bhimber, can face intense rains between August 29 and September 2, and earth landslides are a potential threat.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, heavy rains are forecast from August 29 to 31, with authorities warning of landslides and the risk of flood floods of the glacial lakes (GLOF) in districts such as Gilgit, Skardu, Hunza, Diamer, Astore, Ghanche and Ghanche.

The coastal districts of Sindh, including Karachi, Thatta, Sujawal, Badin and Tharpark, are expected to receive heavy rains between August 30 and September 2.

The NDMA warned that Karachi faces the risk of urban floods due to possible downpours. The interior districts of Sindh, including Hyderabad, Dadu, Sukkur, Ghotki, Larkana, Jacobabad and Kashmore, could also witness torrential rains between August 30 and September 1.

In Baluchistan, it is likely that the coastal and oriental districts such as Gwadar, Kech, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Lasbela and Kalat are beaten by rains from August 29 to September 1, with the possibility of flooding in low areas.

He also warned that continuous rain could intensify flood conditions along the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers. “People must immediately communicate with local authorities and rescue officials in case of emergency,” said NDMA, added that help operations were ongoing and were being monitored closely. “All institutions ensure the preparation to deal with any crisis.”

Punjab currently faces severe floods, since water levels in the main rivers of the province, Chenab, Ravi and Setlej, remain dangerously high, with fluctuating flows in multiple heads. The disaster has left 17 people dead, while many others are still reported as missing.

Floods in the Chenab, Sutlej and Ravi rivers have devastated almost 1,400 villages in Punjab, displacing more than 1.2 million people.

Throughout Chenab, 991 villages and 769,281 people have been affected, while the explosion of the Ravi river has affected 80 villages and 74,775 residents, and the Sutlej has flooded 361 villages, displacing 392,768 people.