The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued an alert for heavy rains expected across Islamabad and Punjab from September 1 to 3. The authority has cautioned that ongoing flood conditions could worsen with the new spell of heavy rains.
Flood-prone districts—including Murai, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, and Hafizabad—face heightened risk, while Lahore, Chiniot, Sialkot, and Faisalabad are also under threat due to the forecasted deluge.
Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Sahiwal, and Rahim Yar Khan are also on alert for emerging flood conditions.
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Heavy downpours and swift currents may pose a critical threat at the Marala Headworks and may spill over into adjacent hamlets, NDMA cautioned.
Residents in low-lying areas adjacent to streams are advised to remain on high alert and avoid non-essential travel, as water levels may rise unexpectedly.
The authority also urged departments concerned to keep emergency machinery and pumps ready to protect infrastructure, and keep communities updated about potential hazards.
The warning came as Punjab faces another flood threat, potentially more severe than the recent one, following India’s release of massive amounts of water from the Salal Dam without official notice.
According to Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the release is expected to send an estimated 800,000 cusecs of floodwater into Chenab within 48 hours, raising fears of ‘extremely high flood conditions’ across multiple districts.
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PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said all districts along the Chenab have been placed on high alert, with commissioners and deputy commissioners have been instructed to remain in the field. “The next 36 hours are critical,” he warned, stressing that the water level could reach a dangerous level at Head Marala. The surge comes as flooding has already caused widespread destruction along the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers.
Meanwhile, with Tarbela Dam now at 100 per cent capacity and Mangla at 82 per cent, officials warn that the margin for absorbing further inflows is rapidly shrinking.
