The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has issued a flood warning as the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast continued wet weather in different areas of the province.
In its weather advisory, the provincial body said that downpours are likely to swell local streams and rivers today, with the risk of flooding in districts including Chitral, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan and Abbottabad. Persistent rain is likely to cause landslides in mountainous areas, threatening road access and cutting off remote communities, it said.
It added that low-lying parts of Peshawar, Nowshera and Mardan may also face urban flooding.
The PDMA has warned that strong winds and heavy showers could damage mud houses and fragile structures. Local administrations, police and rescue services have been placed on high alert, while the public and tourists have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and keep away from riverbanks.
In its weather forecast, the PMD warned of widespread heavy rains that could trigger flash floods and landslides in several parts of the country during the next 24 hours.
According to the forecast, strong downpours may cause flooding in local streams and rivers across Chitral, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Charsadda, Nowshera, Swabi and Mardan. Heavy showers are also expected in Murree, the Galliyat region, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, north-eastern Punjab, Kashmir and Dera Ghazi Khan, raising the risk of overflowing seasonal waterways.
The national forecaster has cautioned that persistent rainfall could set off landslides in hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galliyat and Kashmir, potentially disrupting road travel. Low-lying areas in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Peshawar, Nowshera and Mardan may also face waterlogging.
The forecast added that gusty winds and thunderstorms may damage fragile structures such as mud houses, walls, electricity poles, billboards, vehicles and solar panels. Travellers and tourists have been advised to remain cautious, plan their journeys in line with weather conditions and stay updated to avoid any mishaps.
The Met Office said that north-eastern Punjab could see particularly intense showers, while southern Punjab, north-eastern Balochistan and south-eastern Sindh are also likely to receive rain with thunder during the evening and night.
