PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority on Thursday warned of glacial lake outburst floods (Glofs) in five districts, including Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Swat and Upper Kohistan.

In an advisory, the PDMA said the Pakistan Meteorological Department had forecast a significant wet spell in the province from the evening of June 26 to July 1.

It added that during the period, the province was likely to witness scattered and widespread rain and thunderstorms, with isolated heavy downpours.

“The prevailing weather conditions increase the risk of Glofs and flash floods in vulnerable glaciated regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” it noted.

Calls for measures to prevent damage to public life, property

The PDMA said that in view of those weather conditions, district administrations were required to take all necessary measures to prevent any loss of human and animal life and damage to infrastructure and crops.

It urged authorities to forewarn communities from vulnerable areas about floods and ensure availability of emergency and rescue personnel and necessary equipment for rapid response to any emergency.

The PDMA also said that visitors to those areas should be alerted to the risk and advised to avoid any unnecessary travel, and coordinate with the relevant departments for the timely restoration of blocked or damaged roads.

Meanwhile, the PDMA issued a weather alert, forecasting rains with thunderstorm and gusty winds in Chitral, Dir, Swat, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, Battagram, Shangla, Kohistan, Torghar, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Kurram, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Charsadda, Kohat, Hangu, Bannu, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and North and South Waziristan districts.

It also said that isolated heavy rainfall was expected at scattered places in the province.

“Heavy to very heavy rains may generate flash floods in the nullahs and streams of Mardan, Mansehra, Kohistan, Dir, Swat and Shangla, whereas urban flooding is possible in low-lying areas of Peshawar, Nowshera and Swabi,” it noted.

The PDMA also warned people about landslides and the subsequent road closures in the vulnerable hilly areas.

It said in the last 24 hours, Malamjaba recorded 70mm of rain, Saidu Sharif 34, Kohat 25, Parachinar 23, Risalpur 16, Timergara 8, Takht Bhai 6, Cherat 4, Kakul 3 and Buner 1.

Our South Waziristan correspondent adds: a powerful windstorm accompanied by torrential rain struck the border town of Angoor Adda in the Birmal tehsil of Lower South Waziristan at around 7pm on Wednesday, causing extensive damage to public property and infrastructure.

According to the district administration, the storm smashed the fiberglass roof of the town’s central mosque Jamia Masjid Farooqia and damaged several houses and shops in the vicinity.

Cleric Maulana Tasbeehullah Wazir said the strong wind blew away roofs of at least three houses and six shops, while furniture and electrical appliances were destroyed or damaged in dozens of houses.

Residents said the windstorm uprooted several rooftop solar panels, suspending electric supply to several houses.

They urged authorities to immediately offer relief and compensation for damaged houses, shops and solar systems.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2025