Sixth Monsoon Spell Puts Lahore Under Urban Flooding Watch

PDMA warns of flooding risk in low-lying areas through August 20; WASA operational staff directed to remain in the field

LAHORE: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority Punjab has warned that heavy rainfall during the sixth monsoon spell could trigger urban flooding in low-lying parts of Lahore, with the alert period running through today.

The PDMA advisory, issued August 16 and citing the Pakistan Meteorological Department, forecasts rain and thundershowers with gusty winds and isolated heavy falls across Punjab from August 16 through August 21, with occasional breaks. Monsoon currents have continued penetrating the upper parts of the country, and a westerly wave was expected to enter on August 17.

The forecast includes Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Jhelum, Chakwal, Talagang, Attock, Sialkot, Narowal, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali and Noorpur Thal. Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Layyah, Bhakkar, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan were forecast to receive rain on August 20 and 21.

PDMA warned that heavy rainfall between August 17 and 20 could produce urban flooding in low-lying areas of Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot and Lahore, with flash flooding possible in storm drains. Landslides remain a risk in vulnerable areas of Murree and Galiyat.

PDMA Director General Saif Anwar Jappa directed commissioners and deputy commissioners to remain alert. The health, irrigation, construction and communications, local government and livestock departments were also placed on notice. District administrations were instructed to ensure preparedness, formulate risk-mitigation plans, maintain sufficient round-the-clock staffing for coordination and response, and coordinate with PDMA and all relevant departments.

In Lahore, WASA has previously directed operational staff to remain in the field during comparable alerts to ensure drainage arrangements — a standing practice during monsoon spells, per reporting on earlier advisories this season.

PDMA has urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel in bad weather, remain in safe locations during storms, and stay indoors during thunderstorms. Children should be kept away from low-lying areas, standing water, electric wires and poles — the last a persistent cause of monsoon fatalities in urban Punjab. Farmers have been advised to plan crop activity around the forecast and take precautions for livestock. Tourists and travellers heading north have been asked to remain cautious given unstable conditions.

The PDMA emergency helpline is 1129. WASA Lahore’s complaint numbers are 1334 and 0334-1334470.

The commissioned brief described this as an emergency declaration. The reporting available describes a weather alert and advisory with directives to district administrations — a materially different thing from a declared emergency. Readers making decisions about travel, work or property should understand which is in force. This desk has filed it as the alert it is.