The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast widespread rain and thunderstorms across several districts of Sindh until July 27, warning that isolated heavy downpours could cause urban flooding in low-lying areas.
According to the Met Office, a low-pressure system over southwest Rajasthan and adjoining areas, combined with strong monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea, is influencing weather conditions across southern and central Pakistan.
The PMD said moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Sanghar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Jamshoro and Shaheed Benazirabad from Friday through July 27, with occasional breaks.
Light to moderate rain and thunderstorms are also likely in Ghotki, Kashmore, Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Qambar Shahdadkot, Larkana, Khairpur, Naushahro Feroze and Thatta during the same period.
The weather department warned that windstorms and lightning could damage vulnerable infrastructure, including electricity poles, solar panels and billboards. It also cautioned that heavy rainfall may lead to urban flooding in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Sanghar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Matiari and Shaheed Benazirabad.
The PMD advised farmers to plan agricultural activities according to the weather forecast and take measures to protect their livestock. It added that the ongoing hot and humid weather is expected to subside during the forecast period.
For Karachi, the Met Office predicted partly cloudy, warm and humid conditions, with chances of thunderstorms on the city’s outskirts and light rain or drizzle at isolated locations over the weekend.
The port city’s minimum temperature is expected to remain around 28°C, while the maximum is likely to reach 37°C over the weekend.
It is pertinent to mention here that at least 28 people have lost their lives and 29 others have been injured in rain related incidents across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since July 19, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said.
The PDMA said that the deaths were due to the collapse of roofs and walls, and people being swept away by flash floods resulting from torrential rains.
Ten men, 15 children and three women have died and 13 men, nine women and seven children are injured.
The authority also reported damage to 47 houses, 37 of which suffered partial damage and 10 were destroyed.
The impacted districts are Peshawar, Nowshera, Khyber, Mardan, Buner, Bajaur, Shangla, Swabi, Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper and Lower Dir, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Upper Kohistan, Tank, Tor Ghar, Kurram, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan.
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