According to a notification shared by PDMA Punjab on social media platform X, cities at high risk of flash flooding include Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Sahiwal, Jhang, and Toba Tek Singh, among others.
The alert noted that intense rainfall and windstorms could potentially damage mud houses, electric poles, billboards, and solar panels. “Heavy rains may cause flash flooding in local streams and nullahs in Murree and Galliyat on July 23rd and 24th,” stated PDMA Punjab, adding that significant rainfall might also lead to urban flooding in the low-lying areas of Punjab during the same period.
Furthermore, monsoon rains are expected in the divisions of Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, and Gujrat.
The PDMA urged travelers and tourists to exercise caution and plan their trips according to weather conditions to avoid accidents during the rainy period. Farmers were also advised to manage their activities based on the weather forecast.
Authorities in Punjab have been directed to establish a reliable communication system via phone calls, SMS, and announcements to ensure timely dissemination of weather updates. Last week, heavy rains in Punjab resulted in the deaths of 12 people and injuries to 27 others, with 14 houses collapsing, according to a fact sheet released by the provincial PDMA on July 13.
PDMA Punjab’s Director General, Irfan Khatia, mentioned that the monsoon rains from July 22 to 25 could bring heavy rain and thunderstorms, particularly in the southern districts of Punjab on July 23 and 24. “The PDMA control room is monitoring the situation 24/7, and the water levels in rivers and dams are currently normal,” he said.
