LAHORE: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) on Thursday warned of more downpour in the next 24 hours.

The spell, it warns, will continue for the next four days before fizzling out. However, the system has started weakening in upper parts of the province and getting reinforced in south Punjab. In the next hours, rains will lash central to south Punjab and Sindh.Meanwhile, PDMA Director General Faisal Farid said there was no danger of major flood in any river of Punjab. There would be a danger of urban flooding in different districts due to heavy rain.

“Commissioners, deputy commissioners and Wasa officials have been instructed to ensure timely cleaning of drains and start drainage operations immediately after rains and ensure monitoring of the operation itself,” he said, adding the Punjab government would ensure safety of lives and property of the people.Some villages in Makarwal area have been inundated due to flooding in Baroch Nala entering Punjab from Pakhtunkhwa. PDMA and Mianwali district administration are conducting rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.

People have been rescued and shifted to safer places. Some 60 rescuers and more than 100 volunteers are participating in the relief operation. Flood relief camps have also been set up in the affected area. No casualties were reported from the flooded villages. Drainage of rainwater is in progress.

Gujranwala, Sargodha and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions are also at risk of urban flooding due to heavy rains.

Meanwhile, on the direction of the chief secretary, PDMA has directed commissioners and deputy commissioners to take effective measures to deal with flooding. All agencies should coordinate with each other and ensure immediate implementation of the Plan of Action for Urban Flooding.

He said steps should be taken to deal with urban flooding in low-lying areas of various cities. Instructions have also been issued to the district administration of Punjab, Rescue 1122 and Wasa officials to keep all necessary machinery functional to deal with urban flooding.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2022