Lahore is expected to experience monsoon rainfall, with rain likely to begin around midnight today (Saturday) and continue through Sunday.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, heavy rainfall may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Mardan, Swabi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, and Lahore.
The department also warned of landslides in mountainous areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galiyat, and Kashmir. Meanwhile, Sindh and Balochistan will mostly remain hot.
The ongoing monsoon spell affected infrastructure across Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. 164 people have died across Pakistan between June 26 and August 21.
Last year this month, the River Ravi rose dramatically after heavy monsoon rains and increased water flows from upstream areas in India. The river reached very high flood levels at Shahdara, threatening several parts of Lahore. However, the water flow in the Ravi remained within normal levels during the season.
In 2022, Pakistan experienced its worst floods in decades, with the disaster affecting 33 million people, while August marked the worst month.
Precautions to take during this monsoon season
- Maintain a safe distance from power lines and electrical wires.
- Stay indoors unless it is absolutely necessary to go outside. If you do go out, carry an umbrella.
- Do not drive through flooded roads. If you need to travel, drive slowly and cautiously.
- Make sure your UPS batteries are fully charged in case of a power outage.
- Keep following updates from official sources regarding the weather and rainfall.