Pre-monsoon stormy rains have lashed the country ending the spell of severe heatwave that has gripped the country for the last few days. But the heavy showers have also brought with them untold miseries of inundation of different cities across the country, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Monday.
Cloudburst hit different cities of Punjab including Lahore, Nowshehra Virkan, Malikwal, Narowal, Attock, Sara-i-Alamgir, Kharian, Sagla Hill, Nankana Sahib, Renala Khurd, Sira-i-Mughal, Pakpattan, Manawala, Sialkot and twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Heavy rains also pounded various cities in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir.
Streams and nullahs are in flood due to torrential rains in different areas of Balochistan, KP and AJK. Land sliding is feared in hilly areas. A contingency plan has been prepared in view of monsoon rains in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Lahore, where heavy downpour has started pounding the city since early morning, has caused urban flooding in low lying areas.
The heavy inundation of the Punjab capital speaks volume of the inefficiency of the local authorities as almost the entire city is presenting a picture of gigantic pool and the suction pumps have still not been brought to the flood streets to dewater them despite the fact that heavy rain has been pouring down since almost five hours.
Torrential rains continue hitting the twin cities, as a result of which rainwater has accumulated on the low-lying areas and highways.
According to the Meteorological Department, 59mm of rain has been recorded so far.
45mm rain was recorded at Syedpur, 53mm at Golra, 55mm at Bokra, 48mm at PMDH 8, 48mm at Shamsabad, and 49mm at Chaklala.
Meanwhile, the water level in Nullah Lai has started rising. The water level at the point of Katarian in Nullah Lai has reached 10 feet and at Gwalmandi Bridge it has reached 8 feet.
A pre-alert warning is issued when the water level reaches 11.4 feet at Katarian and 8.3 feet at Gwalmandi in Nullah Lai.
According to the Pakistan Metrological Department, pre-monsoon rains with dust/thunderstorms have been predicted in upper and central parts from June 25-30 with occasional gaps (prevailing heatwave conditions are likely to subside from June 25).
Met Office has informed that moist currents are penetrating in upper and central parts of the country from the Arabian Sea as a westerly wave has entered the upper parts of the country since yesterday.
It further says that under the influence of this weather system, rain/wind/thundershower (with few heavy falls) is expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Swat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Kurram, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Mianwali, Sargodha, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahuddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh from 24th (night) to 30th June with occasional gaps.
Rain/wind/thundershower with isolated heavy falls is also expected in Barkhan, Loralai, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Kalat, Khuzdar, Zhob, Ziarat, Musakhel, Dera Ismail Khan, Karak, Waziristan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Multan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Kot Addu, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, and Okara from 26th to 29th June, while in Sukkur, Jacobabad and Larkana from 27th to 28th June.
Reporters Rozina Ali and Komal Aslam