KARACHI: The Met department has released on Thursday an urban flooding warning for several districts of Sindh from Saturday (tomorrow) onward as strong monsoon currents are likely to penetrate into the province from Friday night.

The system, which is likely to prevail till July 26, may cause strong winds that may damage vulnerable and loose structures.

According to the Met office’s advisory, the weather system may induce widespread rain-wind/thunderstorms with scattered heavy/very heavy falls are likely in Tharparker, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Thatta, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, Matiari, Sanghar, Nawabshah, Khairpur, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Dadu, Jamshoro, Shikarpur, Qambar Shahdadkot, Ghotki and Kashmore districts during July 23-July 26.

The advisory said that widespread rain-wind / thunderstorms with heavy / very heavy fall is likely in Karachi between July 24 and July 26. “Heavy/very heavy rainfall may generate urban flooding/water-logging in low-lying areas of Karachi,” it added.

The urban flooding warning is also issued for Hyderabad, Matiari, Thatta, Badin, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tharparker, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Sanghar, Nawabshah, Dadu, Jamshoro, Kambar Shahdadkot, Larkana and Sukkur during the forecast period.

“All concerned authorities are requested to remain alert during the forecast period and take necessary actions,” it said.

Already filled Hub Dam may receive more inflows due to persistent heavy spell over Khuzdar, Lasbella, and Hub along Khirthar Range while flash flooding in Dadu and Jamshoro districts and downstream areas could not be ruled out, it added.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2022