Flood

District Rajanpur's climate has extremes. It is very hot in summer while it is very cold in winter in the vicinity of Koh-e-Suleman range. Elevation map shows that north-eastern part of the district has low mountain regions while most of the area is situated as a plain area. At Rajanpur, there is no weather forecasting station available. However, the weather and climate data available for the nearby district i.e. Faisalabad, Multan and Bahawalpur have been taken and considered for Rajanpur District. 

District Rajanpur's weather history indicates that its weather is dry in general with low annual rainfall having uncertain and occasional characteristics. Following District's rainfall history indicates floods almost every year and wreak mayhem in the district.

District average Rainfall and Maximum discharge Reported:

KACHA & PACHAD AREA:

The district is witnessing visible climate change impacts as its flood severity and frequency of occurrence has become unpredictable. 

Rajanpur is the Southern-most district of Punjab Province. It has a total population of approx 1.9 million and is comprised of three Tehsils: Jampur, Rajanpur and Rojhan. In addition, a tribal area (“de-excluded area”) lies in the Koh-e-Suleman range.

Being close to the river bed, the eastern part of the district (Katcha zone) is frequently hit by flooding from the Indus River due to heavy monsoon rains in July/August and snow melt in the Himalayas. This riverine flooding inundates a large part of the low lying areas along the river belt in all three Tehsils (sub-divisions), namely Jampur, Rajanpur and Rojhan. The western part of the district (locally called “Pachadh” Area/ Tribal Area) is frequently affected by “Flash / Torrential Floods” which develop in the Suleiman mountain ranges. Both these hazards bring heavy losses in the two areas (Katcha & Pachadh) that cover roughly about 80% of the area and about 60% of the population, damaging houses made of mud, land and crops, livestock and other property.

The lands in the Western (Pachadh) area are relatively steep and this tends to facilitate flash- flooding from torrential rains in the Suleiman range in July/August (or in some cases February/ March).  Flash floods in the Pachadh zone are considered more serious than the riverine floods for the communities. If modest, the flash-floods can be harnessed for the benefit of crop cultivation, however, in case of the frequent severe flash floods, communities face heavy losses of standing crops, livestock, houses which are usually made of mud, and other physical infrastructure

FLOOD 2022 SITUATION:

1. Riverine Flood:

Due to heavy rains in the northern part of Pakistan and the water released by the India downstream to Pakistan cause water level rise in river Indus at Kot Mithan (Rajanpur), which started to develop flooding in the suburb areas of the river banks. In Rajanpur the rise in Indus River started from the 4^th week of July 2022 and start damages of livelihood (Standing Crops especially Cotton and Sugarcane) of the riverine areas. Approx maximum discharge 7,20,000 cusec (Discharge of Taunsa + Discharge of Panjnad + Discharge from Rodh Kohi Channels) is reported at Benazir Bridge at Kot Mithan which is continuously rising; As all the 05 rivers of the Pakistan are joining together at Kot Mithan in District Rajanpur due to which pressure of all the 05 Rivers become maximum in the areas of Rajanpur.

2. Flash / Torrential Flood:

Flash Flood is another hazard developed from the mountain range of Koh-e-Suleman from the western side of Rajanpur. Heavy Rains started in the mountains areas from the 2^nd week of July 2022 to onwards, which developed an exceptional high level flash flood of the history in the Pachadh Areas of Rajanpur which is continuous up till now. Maximum 108,941 cusec water in Kaha Hill Torrent and 75,900 Cusec reported in Chachar Hill Torrent. This rain water run throughout the district towards western part to eastern of the district and fall into the Indus River at different locations of Tehsil Rajanpur and Rojhan.

Strategy of District Administration to mitigate the Torrential Flood 2022:

Some valuable steps taken during flood and experts opinion regarding Torrential Flood 2022:

• Flood Presentation
• Flood Movie
• Hazard Map - Live Google Map
• Policy Paper 
• My Google Maps
• Flood Damages Data
• Flood Damages Picture
• Visits of dignitaries during Flood
• NGOs / INGOs Relief Tracking Mechanism