NDMA issues advisory over ‘significant’ rain spell from tomorrow

As the Met Office predicted ‘significant’ rainfall and thunderstorms from April 25 to April 30, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Wednesday issued an advisory to avert any untoward incident.

The NDMA urged quarters concerned to be ready to cope with potential floods and landslides, especially in Upper KP, Murree, Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan.

It stressed the authorities should be alert to respond to emergencies and all the machinery should be in position

Residents of vulnerable areas like localities near riverbanks and nullahs should be aware of rising water levels and necessary evacuation must be made, while tourists should stay away from spots where landslide is expected, the authority advised.

The Met Office forecast rain, wind and thunderstorms in Noushki Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Chaman, Zhob, Ziarat, Gwadar, Panjgur, Kech, Awaran, Chaghi, Kalat, Mastung, Jhal Magsi, Naseerabad, Sibi, Dera Bugti and Loralai districts of Balochistan.

It stated that in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain, windstorms and thunderstorms are expected in the districts of Dera Ismail Khan, Swabi, Kohistan, Mardan, Shangla, Charsadda, Swat, and Nowshera, Haripur, Buner, Bajaur, Mohmand, Peshawar and Kurram.

The experts forecast heavy to moderate rain in Murree, Islamabad Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Faisalabad, Jhang, Khushab Sargodha, Mianwali, Pak Pattan and Sahiwal from April 26 to 29.