Sherry Rehman warns of urban flooding in Punjab as PMD predicts rains

Abdullah Jan

Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman said on Thursday that the new monsoon spell that was starting today will bring with it a possibility of thunderstorms and heavy rains in different regions which could lead to urban flooding in low-lying areas.

In a tweet, she said that the new spell was expected to continue until July 21 and all relevant departments have been instructed to remain alert.

‘‘In second half of july, there is a risk of urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Lahore due to heavy rainfall,’’ she tweeted.

She further said that there is an alert of possible landslides in hilly areas such as Murree, Galiyat, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Her tweet comes after the northern states of India witnessed torrential downpours in the past week. As a result, India is releasing more water towards the downstream areas in Pakistan, leaving the risk of flooding in the country.

However its chairman has instructed relevant institutions “to remain alert and continuously monitor the water reservoirs and to transfer the populations under possible threat to safe places in time”.

‘‘I am monitoring all the rescue operations in all districts of Punjab myself and any laxity from District Administration anywhere in Punjab will not be tolerated.’’

On July 6, record heavy monsoon rain caused urban flooding Lahore inundating different localities, including low-lying areas, and claimed eight lives.