Urban flooding alert issued as heavy rains expected in Karachi

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast intermittent heavy rains across Sindh from September 7 to 10, warning that low-lying areas in Karachi and other cities may experience urban flooding.

According to the PMD, a low-pressure system currently over India’s Madhya Pradesh is likely to move towards Rajasthan and reach parts of Sindh by September 6. Under this influence, strong monsoon currents are expected to penetrate Sindh and eastern Punjab.

Rainfall has been predicted in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Khairpur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal, Jamshoro, Dadu, Kashmore, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Ghotki, and Karachi. Several districts of Balochistan are also expected to receive rain.

The PMD cautioned that heavy downpours could inundate low-lying areas in Karachi, Mirpurkhas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Tharparkar, Khairpur, Sukkur, Larkana, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal and Hyderabad.

In Punjab, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and multiple districts are forecast to receive rains between September 6 and 8. The Met Office warned that the rainfall may aggravate conditions in flood-affected areas and cause flooding in seasonal nullahs.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a landslide alert for Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. Areas at risk include Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, Haveli, Bagh, Poonch and Sudhnoti.

NDMA also warned of possible disruptions along the Karakoram Highway, as well as Turghar Road, Battagram Road, Shangla Road, Lower Kohistan Road and Tattapani Road. Roads in Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu and Chitral may also be affected.

The NDMA confirmed that the National Emergencies Operation Centre has been fully activated to monitor the evolving situation round-the-clock.