PK-LIVE NEWS

• Medium to high flows expected in nullahs linked to Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi
• Authorities on high alert as NDMA reviews flood preparedness

LAHORE: While rising river flows have pushed Tarbela Dam near its maximum capacity, the Met Office has warned of urban flooding and inundation in low-lying areas of several cities as heavy monsoon rains are expected on Tuesday (today).

According to the Flood Forecasting Divi­sion (FFD) of the Pakistan Meteorological De­­­­partment, heavy rainfall may trigger wat­er accumulation in low-lying areas of Islam­abad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Faisalabad, Multan, Sahiwal, Okara, Bahawalnagar, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, the Potohar region, Peshawar and Nowshera.

The division also warned of flash flooding in hill torrents and local streams across Kashmir, Murree, Galiyat, northeastern Punjab, Islamabad, the Potohar region, some areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Dera Ghazi Khan. Medium to high flows are expected in nullahs linked to the Jhelum, Chenab and Ravi rivers, while flash floods are also likely in the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan, streams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Kabul River and its tributaries, and parts of northern Balochistan.

Landslides are also feared in the mountainous districts of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Buner, Battagram, Mansehra, Shangla and Abbottabad, as well as Murree, Galiyat and the hilly areas of Azad Kashmir.

The FFD said the Indus River at Kalabagh, Guddu and Sukkur, and the Ravi at Balloki, are currently flowing at low flood level. It urged all relevant authorities to remain on alert and take precautionary measures to deal with possible rain-related emergencies.

According to the Water and Power Development Authority’s (Wapda) daily water report, the Indus at Tarbela recorded inflows of 250,700 cusecs and outflows of 191,900 cusecs on Monday. The Kabul River at Nowshera recorded both inflows and outflows of 43,700 cusecs, while the Jhelum at Mangla registered inflows of 44,700 cusecs and outflows of 7,000 cusecs. The Chenab at Marala recorded inflows of 85,900 cusecs and outflows of 69,900 cusecs.

The report showed that Tarbela Dam’s water level had risen to 1,543 feet, only seven feet below its maximum conservation level of 1,550 feet, with live storage reaching 5.178 million acre-feet (MAF). Mangla Dam’s water level stood at 1,199.35 feet, around 42 feet below its maximum conservation level of 1,242 feet, with live storage of 4.193 MAF.

Chashma Reservoir is also nearing full capacity, with its water level recorded at 648.50 feet against a maximum conservation level of 649 feet.

Monsoon, flood preparedness

Meanwhile, National Disaster Manage­me­­nt Authority (NDMA) Chairman retired Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik visited the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) headquarters to review monsoon and flood preparedness across the province.

He was received by Punjab Minister Kha­waja Salman Rafique and PDMA Director General Saif Anwar Jappa. The NDMA chairman visited the Provincial Emergency Control Centre, where officials briefed him on preparedness measures, while climate change, resource management and capacity building also came under discussion.

Mr Rafique said all departments, including health, rescue and livestock, were fully mobilised to respond to any flood emergency. He said Rescue 1122 had been equipped with modern equipment worth billions of rupees, while new warehouses were being established across Punjab to improve emergency response.

The NDMA chairman said the authority was maintaining close coordination with all provinces and that PDMA, Rescue 1122 and other institutions were responding effectively to the evolving monsoon situation.

The PDMA director general said officials were continuously monitoring river flows and the monsoon situation across the province. He said underground water storage tanks were being constructed to reduce urban flooding, while Wasa had been equipped with modern machinery and its operations expanded to 41 cities. During the visit, the NDMA chairman presented commemorative shields to Mr Rafique and Mr Jappa.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2026