PESHAWAR: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has asked the deputy commissioners to take all precautionary measures to avoid human loss as rain-wind-thundershowers with isolated heavy falls predicted from Monday to Friday may generate flash floods in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The PDMA also warned of urban flooding in Peshawar during this period, according to a letter sent to the deputy commissioners.

The instructions were issued in light of the information given by Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) that strong monsoon currents were continuously penetrating in upper parts of the country and were likely to continue during the week.

The PMD has forecast rains in Kohistan, Shangla, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Dir, Chitral, Peshawar, Kohat, Tank and Karak districts from Monday to Friday.

Similarly, rain is expected in Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan from Tuesday to Thursday.

Heavy rains may generate flash flooding in rain-fed nullahs of the districts mentioned above and urban flooding in Peshawar.

The PDMA has also warned that rains may trigger flash flooding and landslides in the vulnerable areas of upper KP, and asked the district administrations to inform the tourists about the weather forecast. The district administrations have been asked to ensure availability of all emergency services staff, machinery and other resources to deal with any eventuality.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2021