The National Disaster Management Authority has issued a weather advisory warning of thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and potential natural hazards across several parts of the country during the next 12 to 24 hours.
According to the National Emergencies Operation Centre, rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is expected in Islamabad and several districts of Punjab, including Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Jhelum, Gujar Khan, and Sialkot.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rainfall is forecast for areas including Chitral, Dir, Swat, Swabi, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Charsadda, Kohat, Karak, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan.
The alert also covers several locations in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including Skardu, Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer, Diamer, Astore, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Kotli, Poonch, and Bhimber.
The NDMA warned that strong winds and hailstorms could damage vulnerable infrastructure, electricity networks, crops, and weak structures. It also highlighted the possibility of glacial lake outburst floods, flash flooding, landslides, and rising water levels in rivers and streams across northern mountainous areas.
Authorities identified Hunza, Nagar, Gilgit, Chilas, Astore, Shigar, Chitral, Kalam, Upper Kohistan, and mountainous regions of Azad Kashmir as particularly vulnerable to landslides. Roads linking Shimshal Valley, Attabad Lake, Karimabad, Gulmit, Shiskat Bala, and Passu were also declared sensitive.
The authority cautioned that landslides could disrupt traffic on major routes, including the Karakoram Highway, Skardu Road, Deosai Road, Naran Road, and Jaglot-Skardu Road, while tourist destinations such as Kalam, Kundol, Arang Kel, Dasu, Pattan, and Chitral Valley may face travel interruptions.
The NDMA has directed all relevant departments to remain on high alert and advised residents, tourists, and travelers to monitor weather forecasts and road conditions before undertaking journeys to northern regions.
