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The Pakistan National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has warned of heavy rains and flash floods in the upper and central parts of the country over the next two days, Pakistani state media reported on Thursday.

This week, parts of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and eastern Punjab provinces experienced heavy rains, with many low-lying areas flooded.

If rainfall exceeds 50-100 millimetres, it could lead to urban flooding and flash floods in local nullahs and river tributaries, the National Meteorological Department warned, Radio Pakistan reported.

“Areas likely to be affected include Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot and Rawalpindi [in Punjab], while Gali, Kashmir, Kohistan, Mansehra and Murree are prone to landslides and flash floods,” the report said.

NCDMA has asked provincial disaster management authorities and district administrations to closely monitor the situation and take appropriate measures to protect vulnerable people, according to the report.

The public has been advised to take precautionary measures while travelling to landslide-prone areas.

A Pakistan Meteorological Department spokesperson said at least four people were killed this week and 31 others were injured in rain-related incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Previously in April, heavy rains triggered landslides and flash floods in Pakistan, killing 92 people and injuring 116 others.

The east Pakistani province of Punjab reported 21 deaths due to lightning strikes and roof collapses, while the southwestern province of Balochistan At least 15 deaths have been reported in the province due to flooding and heavy rains.

The NDMA this month launched an app to engage the Pakistani community ahead of the monsoon season. The mobile app ‘Pak NDMA NDMA Disaster Alert’ issues alerts and advisory updates to organisations and individual responders in national and regional languages.