Pakistan

NDMA calls for preemptive measures to tackle flood threat

The authority terms next 12 hours crucial as water level in River Chenab has risen owing to heavy rains

Sehrish Wasif September 22, 2015

NDMA terms next 12 hours crucial as water level in River Chenab has risen owing to heavy rains. PHOTO: ONLINE

ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has termed the next 12 hours as crucial as the water level in River Chenab has risen owing to “heavy to very heavy rains” in the country.

The authority has issued alerts to all departments concerned to take the necessary and preventive measures aimed at avoiding human and property losses.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Ahmed Kamal, an official of NDMA said different departments were alerted after receiving a weather advisory from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in this regard.

Read: Toll for floods crosses 200 with release of water from India to add to woes: NDMA

“Floods in River Chenab in the next 24-36 hours are probable, which could cause flooding in the underlying areas,” he said.

He, however, added chances of flood in River Jhelum were low as it had a dam having a large storage capacity.

Pointing out reasons behind the high tide, Kamal said a westerly depression originated in India and a cold westerly wave had mixed together, bringing a change in the weather situation, causing “heavy to very heavy rains”.

Read: Over a million people affected by floods in Pakistan: NDMA

Meanwhile, a weather advisory issued by the PMD warned that the current weather system was likely to continue, producing more rains with isolated heavy falls in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Hazara divisions, Gilgit- Baltistan and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.

Heavy downpours were also predicted in the catchment areas of eastern rivers of Pakistan, generating floods in the rivers.

Due to intermittent rains, there is risk of landslides along major roads of Hazara division and Kashmir.

The probability of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) events is also high in vulnerable valleys of district Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan during the next 24 hours, the advisory added.