NDMA Issues Emergency Red Alert Across Pakistan: Severe Rain, Storms, and Flood Risk in Next 24 Hours
Islamabad (Daily Qudrat News) – The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued an emergency red alert for Pakistan over the next 12–24 hours, warning of severe rainfall, storms, and dangerous flooding. The alert comes from the NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC), which monitors weather hazards and natural disasters both domestically and internationally.
According to the alert, heavy rain accompanied by strong winds and storms is expected across most parts of the country, while snow is likely in the upper and mountainous areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Continuous rainfall in northern regions has raised serious concerns about Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the mountain districts of Gilgit-Baltistan and KP.
Thunderstorms, storms, and occasional hail are expected in various districts of Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh, and KP. Cities in Punjab including Islamabad, Murree, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, and Bahawalpur are likely to experience heavy rainfall with lightning.
Upper and lower KP districts such as Chitral, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Mangora, Battagram, Peshawar, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Swabi, Nowshera, Mardan, Charsadda, Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Waziristan, and Lakki Marwat are also expected to face strong winds and rain. All districts of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, including Skardu, Hunza, Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, and Mirpur, will see heavy cloudbursts.
Balochistan cities including Quetta, Zhob, Ziarat, Qila Saifullah, Pishin, Chaman, Kohlu, Duki, and Harnai, and Sindh cities such as Karachi, Thatta, Badin, Sujawal, Umerkot, Hyderabad, and Mirpur Khas are also forecasted to experience thunderstorms and rainfall.
The western wind system is expected to continue intermittently into early April, increasing water flow in local streams and causing moderate floods in low-lying areas. Flash flooding is likely in hill streams of Dera Ghazi Khan, Tank, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Karak, Malakand, Waziristan, Quetta, Zhob, and Sibi. Urban flooding is possible in major cities like Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Multan.
NDMA has directed all rescue agencies and district administrations to remain on high alert, keep drainage machinery ready, and warned the public to avoid trees and electric poles during storms and lightning. Travelers and tourists have been advised to check road conditions in hilly areas due to risks of landslides and slippery roads.
