Punjab is preparing for more rain in the coming days while officials continue assessing losses from recent floods, PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said on Saturday.
Since June, heavy monsoon rains across Pakistan have killed at least 1,037 people and caused major rivers to overflow, devastating rural communities along their banks. In Punjab alone, over 4.7 million people across 4,700 villages have been affected, according to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).
At a media briefing in Lahore, DG Kathia said rain is expected to start early tomorrow morning and continue in northern parts until October 7. Northern and northeastern areas, from Rawalpindi to Lahore, could receive 30 to 35 millimetres of rainfall, while southern Punjab may see 5 to 10 mm.
The PDMA chief warned that the rain will intensify on October 6 and 7, with 50 to 70 mm expected in northern and northeastern Punjab, spreading to central districts.
The weather changes are already affecting river flows. The Chenab river recorded inflows of 20,000 cusecs at Head Marala. However, Kathia, citing unofficial Indian sources, warned that inflows could surge to 100,000 to 150,000 cusecs in the next 48 hours due to rainfall and silt flushing at the Dul Hasti hydropower project 210 km upstream in occupied Kashmir.
Yesterday morning, Rawalpindi and Islamabad received light to heavy rain, causing slushy streets in low-lying areas.
According to a Pakistan Meteorological Department alert issued on Wednesday, a Western Disturbance is expected to intensify from October 3 and continue until October 7.
Flood Damage Survey Underway in 27 Districts
The PDMA DG said surveys are ongoing in 27 flood-hit districts across Punjab after the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers overflowed. About 4.7 million people were affected, with 2.63 million people and 2.11 million livestock evacuated. The death toll has reached 134, though the final number may rise as the survey continues.
“The survey started on September 27 and is expected to finish within a month, covering all 27 districts and 69 tehsils,” Kathia said.
He explained that 11,500 survey workers are in the field, organized into 2,213 teams. The teams include the Pakistan Army, Urban Unit, agriculture and livestock departments, and district administration representatives.
Despite their efforts, some areas remain difficult to reach due to ongoing flooding. All authorities, including Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz, are monitoring the survey in real time. Data is sent to the Provincial Emergency Operation Centre (PEOC) as soon as it is collected.
Once gathered, the data goes through several verification steps:
- Tehsil flood relief committees check and forward it to district flood relief committees.
- Urban Unit verifies the data before sending it to the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB).
- PITB cross-checks CNICs through NADRA, validates livestock vaccination records, and consults the Punjab Land Record Authority to ensure accurate ownership information.
Only after these checks is the verified information sent to the Bank of Punjab (BOP), where counters will be set up for beneficiaries. Transportation will be arranged, and beneficiaries will receive messages about when and where to collect compensation.
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