Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed - PDMA

(i) Mr. Arif Mahmood, Acting D.G. Meteorology Department
who submitted a written report as well, deposed that normal
flood season starts from 15 th June and ends on 15 th October
every year. During this period the National Weather
Forecasting Division based at Islamabad issues daily flood
reports. With the present capacity of his office 3-4 days early
predictions are possible but can be increased to 10 days, at
the maximum. Availability of trained manpower, resources
and state of the art equipment at seven Radar Stations
established at different locations in the country, include two
Doppler Radars with capacity to measure exact precipitation.
However, no Radar coverage was available in upper
reaches beyond Tarbela or upstream Khairabad or Hill
torrents elsewhere; that in June, 2010, the department had
predicted “normal or slightly more than normal rainfall”
for the 2010 Monsoon season. However, in the case of KP,
sudden changes in the system developed and flash floods
took the people by surprise, the actual rainfall was many
times higher than predicted especially in north-western areas
and record rainfall was received in Saidu Sharif and
Mianwali in Punjab as well. That with effect from 24 th July
onwards, the pattern changed significantly after a long dry
spell, the department commenced regular weather
advisories from its Islamabad head-office to some 350 listed
addressees; that on 28 July 2010, its Flood Forecasting
Division at Lahore predicted heavy rains in the catchments
of rivers Kabul and Swat; that Wapda’s gauges at river Kabul
and Swat were washed away after flash floods in 2010 and
exact flows could not be calculated. The flood maintained its
peak flows for over 7 to 8 days, which caused major
Page 44 of 211