Rising river flows could trigger high flooding in storm-water nullahs connected to the Chenab and Ravi between August 15 and 21, the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) of the Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned.
The department on Friday said that the main rivers were expected to remain around low flood levels, but tributary nullahs could face low to medium flooding. A substantial rise in water flowing through the smaller waterways could result in high flood levels.
The warning comes as heavy rain is forecast across the upper catchments of Pakistan’s major rivers.
The FFD predicted widespread rain, wind and thunderstorms, with isolated heavy falls, over the next 24 hours in Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of upper Punjab.
The department also cautioned about possible flash flooding in tributaries of the Kabul River and hill torrents in the Dera Ghazi Khan division during the forecast period.
No major increase in inflows was expected over the next 24 hours at the principal gauging stations of the Indus, Kabul, Jhelum, Ravi and Sutlej, although several locations could reach low flood levels.
Taunsa, Marala, Khanki, Qadirabad and Sidhnai were expected to enter the low-flood range, while Tarbela, Kalabagh, Chashma, Guddu and Balloki were forecast to remain at that level.
