The Pakistan Meteorological Department’s Flood Forecasting Division has issued a series of urgent warnings as widespread thunderstorms and torrential rains threaten to raise river levels and trigger urban flooding across Punjab and the upper regions of the country.

According to the latest bulletins, a well-marked monsoon low over northeast Rajasthan is driving a fresh wet spell, with significant rainfall already recorded in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, and Sargodha. The department warns that heavy falls and torrential rains are expected to continue, especially in the upper catchments of the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej rivers.

At 6:00 am today, the Indus River was at low flood at Kalabagh, Guddu, and Sukkur, while other major rivers remained in normal flow. However, the Met Office cautions that river flows are likely to increase in the coming days, particularly at Marala, Khanki, Qadirabad, and Mangla, with the risk of medium to high flood levels developing.

Urban flooding is also expected in major cities of Punjab, including Lahore, Bahawalpur, Multan, and DG Khan, as the wet spell is forecast to persist for at least another 36 hours. Authorities have been advised to remain on high alert, and the public is urged to monitor official updates and take necessary precautions.

The department’s quantitative flood forecast indicates that flows in the eastern rivers could rise significantly from July 21, with a “watch” status in place for the catchment areas. Reservoirs at Tarbela and Mangla are currently at 78.95% and 46.87% live storage, respectively.