June 16, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 11, 1429

LAHORE, June 15: Widespread rain has been lashing Kashmir and northeastern Punjab since Saturday. The Met office says the rain will continue till June 20.

“This is pre-monsoon rain, generated by an incursion of abundant moisture from the Arabian Sea that is penetrating into the Punjab and Kashmir up to 7,000ft,” said Hazrat Mir, the director of the Flood Forecasting Division.

“The well-marked seasonal low over Balochistan is also extending to the NWFP and Punjab. The spell of rain will continue till June 20,” Mr Mir said.

Lahore received scattered rainfall and clouds hovered over the city on Sunday night.

Mr Mir termed the rain a good omen, adding that it would provide much-needed water to the reservoirs for power generation.

The director said the rain, coupled with intensified melting of snow and glaciers, had sent the Indus into a low flood at Tarbela, where the inflow was 289,000 cusecs and outflow was 109,700 cusecs.

All the other rivers were normal though their flows could improve in a day or two.

According to the Met office, from 5am to 5pm on Sunday Muzaffarabad received 75mm, Murree 44mm, Malamjabba 42mm, Jhelum 29mm, Kotli 20mm, Islamabad 13mm, Kakul 10mm and Sialkot 1mm of rainfall.

From 8am on Saturday to 8am on Sunday Muzaffarabad received 124mm, Domel 102mm, Sehrakota 80mm, Balakot 66mm, Murree 59mm, Malamjabba 41mm, Kotli 30mm, Jhelum 29mm, Mangla 27mm, Islamabad 19mm and Sialkot 18mm of rainfall.

The Met office expected widespread thunderstorm and rain during the next 24 hours.