Torrential rain wreaks havoc in Rawalpindi, Islamabad as Nullah Lai rises

• More rain forecast across northern regions.
• Nullah Lai water level later recedes.
• Low-lying roads undergo emergency drainage operations.
  

ISLAMABAD: Torrential rain lashed the twin cities, causing rainwater drains to swell and leaving large parts of Rawalpindi inundated, while water entered homes in several cantonment areas and vehicles were submerged in New Lalazar, creating severe difficulties for residents.

Roads were also inundated in Pirwadhai, Sadiqabad and Muslim Town, while more than 145 millimetres of rain was recorded across the twin cities. The heavy downpour also caused the roof of a Metrobus to leak.

In the Jan Colony area, a rainwater drain overflowed, leaving water accumulated in streets. As the water level in Nullah Lai rose, danger sirens were sounded and nearby residents were directed to evacuate.

The water level in Nullah Lai fell after the rain stopped, reaching around six feet at Kattarian. Meanwhile, low-lying areas of Narowal and Gujrat were inundated following heavy rain, while flows in Nullah Bein and Nullah Basantar increased in Shakargarh.

The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) and other relevant departments were engaged in draining water from low-lying roads. A high alert has been issued amid the forecast of further rain.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain, wind and thunderstorms in Islamabad, the Pothohar region, upper Punjab, Kashmir, upper and central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan on Thursday, with heavy falls expected at several places.

According to the weather forecast issued by the Met Office on Wednesday, hot and humid weather would prevail in other parts of the country.

The Met Office warned that heavy rain during the night and on August 20 could cause urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, as well as Mardan, Swabi, Peshawar, Nowshera, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot and Lahore.

It said heavy rain could also trigger flash floods in local nullahs in Kashmir, Murree, Galiyat, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Landslides were also likely in hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galiyat and Kashmir during the forecast period.

In Islamabad and adjoining areas, partly cloudy to cloudy weather with rain, wind and thunderstorms is expected, with heavy falls also likely.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rain, wind and thunderstorms are expected in Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Shangla, Battagram, Buner, Khyber, Bajaur, Mohmand, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Peshawar, Hangu, Orakzai, Karak, Kurram, Kohat and Waziristan.

Heavy rainfall is likely in Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera and Peshawar, while hot and humid weather would prevail elsewhere in the province.

In Punjab, rain, wind and thunderstorms are expected in Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang, Gujrat, Jhelum, Mangla, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura and Okara.

In Sindh, hot and humid weather is expected in most districts, while southern parts would remain partly cloudy. In Balochistan, hot and humid weather is expected in most districts, while rain and thunderstorms are likely in Barkhan, Zhob, Musakhel and Khuzdar during the evening and night.

In Kashmir, partly cloudy weather with rain, wind and thunderstorms is expected, with heavy falls likely. Gilgit-Baltistan is also likely to experience partly cloudy weather with rain and thunderstorms.

During the past 24 hours, widespread rain, wind and thunderstorms occurred in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, while scattered rainfall was reported in the Pothohar region, north-east Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir. Heavy falls were also recorded, while hot and humid weather prevailed in other parts of the country.