The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the agency responsible for combating natural disasters, has issued an alert stating that India has released 185,000 cubic feet of water from the Ujh Barrage into the River Ravi, which is expected to reach within the next 20 to 24 hours.
In a statement issued by the NDMA on Sunday, it was reported that “approximately 65,000 cubic feet is expected to reach within the next 20 to 24 hours, resulting in a lower intensity of flooding at the location of the bridge on the River Ravi.”
As per the directive of the NDMA, the relevant authorities have initiated monitoring at sensitive areas, particularly at the Marala Headworks on the Chenab River and at the location of the bridge on the River Ravi, until July 20th.
According to records from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), last year India had also released 173,000 cubic feet of water, approximately three-fourths of which reached the areas near the bridge, causing the formation of a lower flood level.
The provincial authorities have directed the districts connected to the River Ravi to be fully prepared to deal with the current situation.
In the next 48 hours, further rainfall and the possibility of flooding in at least three major rivers and their associated channels have been predicted by the NDMA along with thunderstorms in various parts of the country.
Since the beginning of July, a series of monsoon rains has started in various parts of the country, resulting in flooding, roof collapses, and electric current incidents.
According to the figures provided by the NDMA, a total of 67 individuals have tragically lost their lives, while 125 people have been injured, and 77 houses have been destroyed.
This situation has arisen due to the heavy rainfall at a time when Pakistan has not yet recovered from the effects of the previous season’s floods, which affected over 30 million people and resulted in more than 1,700 deaths.
On the night of the week, the NDMA predicted through Twitter that over the next 48 hours, there is a risk of intense rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms in the northern and northeastern cities of Lahore, Sialkot, and Narowal, as well as the potential for flooding in the rivers Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej, along with their associated tributaries.
The NDMA has also expressed concerns about urban flooding in these areas and the possibility of landslides in hilly regions.
NDMA has predicted rainfall with thunderstorms in the various areas of Sindh including Karachi, Tharparkar, Sukkur, Larkana, Hyderabad, Badin, and Shaheed Benazirabad(Nawabshah) and some parts of Balochistan.
In view of the rainfall and flooding, the NDMA has directed the district and municipal administrations across the country to ensure the implementation of immediate traffic plans for areas at risk of urban flooding and to establish alternative traffic plans during water drainage operations in underpasses and low-lying areas.
During a meeting, the Chairman of the NDMA emphasized the importance of assessing any flood situation and being prepared and proactive in taking necessary measures to address them.
