Hundreds remain stranded while authorities warn of widespread heavy rainfall across Punjab
WATER EVERYWHERE: Rescuers navigate submerged streets to evacuate residents of Pathan Colony in Ferozewala Tehsil. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE ‘:
LAHORE
A fresh monsoon spell expected to sweep across Punjab from Wednesday (today) has heightened fears of urban flooding, flash floods and landslides, even as dozens of villages in Ferozewala tehsil remain submerged after rising water level in streams left hundreds of families stranded.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast widespread rain and thunderstorms across Punjab and other parts of the country from July 29 to August 5, with scattered heavy to very heavy falls expected in several districts.
Monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal are likely to penetrate the upper and central parts of the country, while a westerly wave affecting northern areas is expected to strengthen from August 1, according to weather experts.
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, Mianwali, Layyah, Bhakkar, Noorpur Thal, Sargodha, Sahiwal and Pakpattan are likely to receive rain with occasional gaps until 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 rainfall from July 31 to August 3.
The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has directed 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 cautioned that Murree, Galliyat and other mountainous areas could face landslides, while flash floods may occur in local streams and nullahs in Kashmir, northeastern Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan, along with hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and northeastern Balochistan.
PDMA Director General Umar Mela directed commissioners and deputy commissioners to ensure advance preparations, saying rainfall could increase water flows in eastern rivers and adjoining nullahs.
Citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel during severe weather, stay away from dilapidated and mud houses, seek shelter during thunderstorms 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 throughout the forecast period. Officials have been instructed to maintain close coordination with district administrations, ensure disposal stations, pumps and machinery remain fully operational and keep field staff deployed during rainfall.
Authorities have also been directed to implement safety measures at construction sites by cordoning off open pits and installing barriers and warning signs.
The warning comes as flooding continued to batter Ferozewala tehsil, where dozens of villages have been inundated after an embankment along the seasonal Bhir Nullah was breached. According to the PDMA, the flow of the River Ravi at Shahdara remains within the normal range, but flooding in seasonal streams has submerged dozens of villages and settlements under several feet of water. Officials said continuing rainfall has pushed water levels even higher, intensifying concerns for residents.
Flooding worsened after water levels rose by another two to three feet, cutting off Pathan Colony from Lahore’s GT Road and leaving hundreds of families stranded in inundated homes. At least three children have died in flood-related incidents, while several feet of floodwater has submerged Rachna Town, Rana Town, Pathan Colony, Kot Abdul Malik, suburban areas of Kala Shah Kaku, Muradpur and Jamke Cheema.
Residents said floodwater entered residential areas after protective embankments were breached or overtopped by swollen seasonal streams, forcing many families to move women, children and elderly members to safer places while some men stayed behind to guard their homes.
“The electricity has remained suspended in the area for the past four days while floodwater continues to rise,” said Muhammad Riaz, a resident of Pathan Colony. He said his family had moved to relatives’ house, but he remained behind to protect household belongings from possible theft.
Rashidan Bibi said floodwater had destroyed most of her possessions. “The savings of my entire life have been washed away, and no government assistance is visible,” she said.
Abdul Rehman said floodwater entered the neighbourhood suddenly during the night, forcing families to flee in haste and abandon much of their belongings, while Muhammad Saleem of Rachna Town said water levels had shown no sign of receding, leaving daily life paralysed and creating shortages of food and safe drinking water.
Rescue and relief operations are continuing with Rescue 1122 and other welfare organisations using boats to evacuate stranded residents and distribute cooked food, dry rations, clean drinking water and other essential supplies.
Residents, however, complained that despite official claims of monitoring the flood situation through 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 no senior government or district administration official had yet visited the affected localities and warned that the forecast of further monsoon rains could significantly worsen flooding in the already inundated areas.
