LAHORE/Islamabad - The rains continue to lash different parts of the country with varying intensities Friday and experts are predicting more heavy rains during next week.
The National Disaster Management Authority warned the country could face threat of further devastation if India decided to release water in shared rivers.
Overcast conditions, showers and continuously blowing winds helped maintaining the mercury to a low level, making weather pleasant during the day and at nighttime.
Heavy rains in upper catchment areas have increased inflow at major reservoirs - Tarbela and Mangla. Water level at Tarbela has reached 1533 feet; only 17 feet below maximum conservation level of 1550 feet. Water level at Mangla has reached 1236 feet. Maximum conservation level of Mangla is 1242 feet.
River Indus at Chashma, Taunsa, Guddu and River Kabul at Nowshera are in medium flood level. River Indus at Tarbela, Kalabagh and Sukkur, River Chenab at Khanki and River Ravi at Sidhnai are in low flood level. Sharp peak of high flood is expected in River Jhelum at Mangla upstream during the next 24 hours.
Strong monsoon currents are likely to penetrate in upper parts of the country during next 3-4 days that may interact with westerly wave over upper Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (Malaknd, Hazara, Mardan, and Peshawar divisions), upper FATA (Bajaur, Mahmond, Khyber, Orakzai and Kurram Agencies), upper Punjab (Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala and Lahore divisions), Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Widespread rains with scattered heavy and at times very heavy falls are expected in these areas from Sunday to Tuesday.
The southern parts of the country are also likely to experience the effects of strong monsoon currents from Monday to Thursday. Widespread rains of high intensity are expected in Sindh (Sukkar, Larkana, Karachi, Hyderabad and Mirpur Khas divisions), southern Punjab (DG Khan, Multan and Bahawalpur divisions), eastern Balochistan (Zhob, Sibbi and Nasirabad divisions) and southern KP (DI Khan division). Heavy rains may generate flash flooding and urban flooding in the vulnerable areas.
Sensing the situation, the NDMA has asked for army's assistance for evacuation of the people in case of flooding.
According to the NDMA, streams and rivers of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab face overflow from the monsoon rains.
Directions have been issued to immediately evacuate all settlements near rivers and streams. In India, monsoon season has begun and due to heavy rains, considerations are underway to release water in Pakistan.
The NDMA has asked for army's assistance for evacuation of the people in case of flood.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority has cautioned that there could be medium level flooding in different parts of the country during the next four or five days.
In a media interview, NDMA Chairman Major General Asghar Nawaz said the flooding situation could be similar to the one witnessed recently.
Replying to questions, he said there was average rainfall forecast during monsoon but it is higher for Northern Punjab, KP and Azad Kashmir. He said more rainfall in catchment areas could result in flash floods in some areas in this belt. He said the flood water is now crossing Punjab and entering Sindh where it is unlikely to cause major damages due to spread of the rivers.
The NDMA chairman also visited Flood Information Cell set up at the Current Affairs Channel in the National Broadcasting House in Islamabad.
While participating in the live programme, he also picked up phone calls from listeners and people from the flood-affected areas.