Torrential rains trigger floods through Pakistan, prey levels near capacity


LAHORE:

The rains of the torrential monsoon have flooded large parts of the country, swelling rivers, damaging crops and leaving dead dozens when the authorities warn more floods until the end of August.

The flood forecast division reported that the Tarbela dam has reached 99 percent of its capacity of 1,549.20 feet, while the mangla dam is full of 1,219.40 feet. The levels in Rawal, Khanpur and Simly Dams have also increased significantly, which leads to the authorities to open the landfill in some deposits to relieve the pressure.

The high flood conditions were recorded in Guddu Barge on the Indo River, where tickets reached more than 543,000 CUSECs. The Sutlej River also increased to dangerous levels, particularly in Ganda Singh Wala in Kasur and Head Sulemanki, where the authorities confirmed moderate to high floods. The officials attributed the ascending levels of Sutlej in part to India that releases additional water upstream.

Floods have already submerged thousands of acres of farmland, destroying crops and displacing residents. In the Kasur district, more than 30 villages lost land access, and thousands of agricultural land acres were flooded. A similar devastation in Pakpattan was reported, where the waters of the floods entered into residential areas, forcing mass evacuations.

The mounted casualties when the houses collapsed and the infrastructure gave way under the pressure of the continuous downpours. According to initial reports, at least 10 people died and more than 60 wounds in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir. In Mardan, a person died when the roof of a room collapsed, while in Kashmir Azad, four houses and a mosque were destroyed by landslides.

The main cities also fought with urban floods. In Lahore, the submerged streets of torrential rain in Gulberg, Jail Road, Lakshmi Chowk and other neighborhoods, with water entering houses and shops. Islamabad and Rawalpindi saw that swollen currents overflow, flood Bhara Kahu and catching vehicles. In Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jhelum and Chinint, the strong showers interrupted the power supplies after the posts and the feeders fell.

The northern areas were not saved. In Murree, landslides and overflowing currents cut key paths, including sattian routes Kohala and Kotli. In Gilgit-Baltistan, the fears of increasing water in the Gilgit River caused the closure of hotels along its banks, while nearby schools were ordered closed. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the winds that reach 100 kilometers per hour uprooted trees in Dera Ismail Khan, demolished electric lines and started ceilings from homes.

The National Disaster Authority has extended a weather alert throughout the country until August 30, warning of a more torrential rain and the risk of sudden floods and landslides in vulnerable regions, including Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Mansehra and Abbottabad. The authorities have urged citizens to avoid unnecessary trips, especially mountainous or low areas.

Rescue teams and local administrations continue to evacuate affected residents and provide assistance supplies, but officials warn that worsening conditions in rivers and mountain streams could increase the crisis in the coming days.

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