Severe weather hits Punjab, KP; authorities issue alerts for storms, rain

LAHORE/PESHAWAR: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has issued a weather alert for Lahore and other parts of the province, warning of continued heavy rains and thunderstorms.

The adverse weather caused two deaths and left 24 people injured in various incidents across Punjab on Monday night, the PDMA confirmed.

The authority said that thunderstorm-related downpours are expected to persist through May 4 in areas including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha, and Dera Ghazi Khan. Multan, Sahiwal, and Bahawalpur divisions are also likely to be affected.

Officials further warned of possible lightning strikes over the next three days and the risk of landslides in Murree and the Galiyat region due to consistent rainfall.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) will see partly cloudy skies with rain and thunderstorms anticipated in several districts.

Peshawar recorded a temperature of 30°C, which may rise to 35°C, with 55% humidity. Strong winds and storms are likely in various parts of the province.

In Balochistan, the weather remains generally dry and moderate, although southern districts may experience light showers by evening or night, particularly in Zhob, Musa Khel, and Barkhan.

Karachi and parts of Sindh are also under the influence of a western weather system affecting the upper parts of the country. The system is expected to bring light rainfall to Hyderabad, Matiari, Sukkur, Tharparkar, and adjacent areas until May 5.

Karachi may experience gusty winds during this period, accompanied by warm and humid conditions. 

The Meteorological Department said the weather system will likely gain moisture from the Arabian Sea from May 5 onwards, potentially intensifying rainfall in parts of Sindh.

Unseasonal rainfall in Sindh during May is being considered an unusual weather event, and authorities are closely monitoring developments.