The National Disaster Management Authority's (NDMA) National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) on Monday issued an alert warning of possible flash floods across northern areas over the next 48 hours due to forecast rains.

In a statement, the NEOC said that flash flooding is feared in several areas of Gilgit-Baltistan, including Gilgit, Diamer, Ghizer, Hunza, Skardu, Astore and Shigar, following the expected rainfall. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Bajaur, Shangla, Battagram, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Nowshera, Swabi and Mardan were among the areas where flooding was expected. Several districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including Bagh, Poonch, Muzaffarabad, Haveli, Bhimber, Sudhanoti, Mirpur and Kotli, were also placed at risk.

It warned of possible flooding and high flows in streams and nullahs across the Potohar region, particularly Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal and Jhelum. In Punjab, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Narowal, Kasur, Okara, Mandi Bahauddin, Wazirabad, Hafizabad and Sargodha were among the areas where flooding was expected. Nowshera, Swabi, Mardan and other low-lying and urban areas were also vulnerable to flooding, the authority said.

The NDMA directed local administrations to preposition essential resources in vulnerable areas and complete arrangements for the safe evacuation of residents wherever required. It advised people to avoid crossing flooded streams, submerged roads, bridges and areas with strong water currents, and to follow traffic advisories issued by the authorities. Residents of flood-prone areas, tourists and travellers were urged to stay away from riverbanks and nullahs.