High flood likely in Chenab, Jhelum after 36 hours
LAHORE: Chenab and Jhelum rivers are likely to cross high flood situation after 36 hours, following widespread rains, thunderstorm and hailstorm in north and northeast of Punjab, an advisory issued by the Met Office has said.
The latest meteorological analysis, issued on Sunday, suggested that widespread thunderstorm/rain, at times extremely heavy rainfall with possibility of hailstorm at few places, was expected over the upper catchments of rivers Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum along with North-Northeast Punjab, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha & Rawalpindi divisions.
The resultant severe rain at isolated places could result in high inflows of water in the main rivers. It is expected that temperature would drop by 2-4 centigrade due to expected rains. As per meteorological office, yesterday’s trough of westerly wave over Northern parts of the country lies over Kashmir & adjoining areas. A strong monsoon current is penetrating into upper parts of the country up to 5000 feet.
The delayed monsoon rains have already played havoc in central parts of the country. Light to moderate rainfall with few heavy showers reported from the agricultural plains of upper and central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. However, heavy to very heavy rainfall was reported from the agricultural plains of southern Punjab and Sindh during last 10 days.
Presently, all the major rivers are having a normal flow. However, it is expected that the inflows would increase tremendously. This likely trend would help further store water in Mangla Dam at River Jhelum and flooding downstream would be minimal.
Keeping in view severe rainfall at various places in Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh provinces, the Met Office advised farmers to take timely necessary precautionary measures to protect their crops, livestock and other property to keep in mind with current situation of the monsoon.
Due to rainy weather in cotton belt, farmers are advised not to irrigate the crop. Farmers are also advised to stop irrigation of maize crop in upper half, including agricultural plains of Punjab and KP. The recent rains may accelerate weeds growth in standing crops. Farmers should take precautionary measures through manual methods or chemical spraying to control weeds on time.
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