In a statement, PMD Director General (DG) Mahr Sahibzad Khan advised the citizens to keep children away from waterlogged areas, electrical wires, and electricity pylons.

“The safety of citizens’ lives and property is our top priority,” he emphasised.

He said Jhelum city received the highest 53 mm rainfall of the monsoon while Islamabad recorded 10 mm rainfall on Thursday morning, with more rain likely in the evening.

The PMD has directed the officials of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and the administration in districts to remain alert during the current spell of monsoon rains to prevent any untoward incident.

Also read: Weeklong monsoon rains with occasional gaps begin

The prevailing weather system in all four provinces including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) is likely to witness heavy rainfall with rain, wind and thundershowers.

People have been advised to take precautions to avoid flooding and ensure safety from lightning strikes. They have also been requested to avoid going outside during severe weather and keep a safe distance from electricity pylons and electrical wires.

The departments concerned have been directed to diligently carry out their assigned duties to alert local communities, tourists and travelers to danger zones. Locals and tourists have also been advised to avoid unnecessary travel.

The PMD DG highlighted that landslides can hit roads in vulnerable hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Murree, Galyat, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during the stormy season.

In response to a question, Mahr Sahibzad Khan said the PDMA control room is monitoring the weather situation 24 hours a day.

He advised people to follow the government’s guidelines to ensure safety, adding the PDMA is fully focused on real-time data to provide accurate weather forecasts.

“We are committed to protecting people by providing timely and accurate weather updates,” he emphasised.