A powerful monsoon spell has brought the twin cities to a standstill, with more than 128mm of rain recorded and the water level in Nullah Leh rising to a dangerous 30 feet.
Low-lying areas have been inundated, water has entered homes and shops, and roads have turned into ponds, causing hours-long traffic jams. Rescue teams have responded to multiple emergencies, while citizens continue to face difficulties over drainage and waterlogging.
The water level in Nullah Leh rose to 30 feet following torrential rain, prompting authorities to sound warning sirens in adjoining areas. The rising water also led to the closure of the Gowalmandi Bridge for traffic as authorities monitored the situation.
A total of more than 128mm of rain was recorded in Rawalpindi. Shamsabad received 201mm, while New Katarian recorded 186mm. In Islamabad, 157mm of rain was recorded in Golra, 155mm at PMD and 105mm in Saidpur.
Dozens stranded in floodwater
At least 76 people were trapped in floodwater at different locations in Rawalpindi as the heavy rain inundated low-lying areas. Rescue teams shifted those stranded to safer locations, as at least 47 had been rescued.
Water entered houses and commercial areas across several parts of Rawalpindi, damaging valuable belongings and disrupting normal life.
Jami Masjid Road, Model Raja Bazaar and Ganjmandi Workshop Mohalla were among the affected areas. Water also entered homes and shops in Javed Colony, Nadeem Colony and Rahimabad, damaging citizens’ valuables.
Pirwadhai, Gowalmandi, Arya Mohalla, Dhok Khaba, Amar Pura, Waris Khan and areas along Murree Road were also badly affected.
Sadiqabad, Curry Road and Shamsabad were among other areas where streets and roads were inundated, leaving residents struggling to move around.
Traffic paralysed across twin cities
The heavy rainfall turned roads and streets into waterlogged stretches, triggering some of the worst traffic congestion in the twin cities.
Traffic remained disrupted for hours on important routes, including the Islamabad Expressway and Taramri Road. Ghauri Town, Gangal and Bhara Kahu also experienced severe traffic disruption.
The prolonged waterlogging caused lengthy queues of vehicles, while power supply was suspended in several areas, adding to the difficulties faced by residents.
Rescue teams remained engaged in evacuating people trapped in floodwater and shifting them to safer locations. The flooding also created emergencies in several residential areas as rainwater entered populated localities and damaged property.
Citizens continued to complain about inadequate drainage and the lack of visible response from relevant authorities, with the performance and claims of WASA and Shatra Punjab once again coming under criticism.
Roof collapse kills one in Islamabad
A person was killed and another injured after the roof of a house collapsed in Sector G-14 of Islamabad following the heavy rain. The incident occurred as rainwater disrupted normal life across the capital and surrounding residential areas.
The injured person was shifted for treatment, while the fatality added to concerns over the impact of the intense monsoon spell.
Walls of two schools also collapsed in Bani Gala and Aabpara/G-6-1 areas of Islamabad. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the school incidents.
Authoritiescontinued monitoring vulnerable structures as heavy rainfall increased the risk of further damage.
Citizens face mounting difficulties
The strong monsoon spell has severely disrupted daily life across Rawalpindi and Islamabad, particularly in low-lying neighbourhoods.
Residents in areas including Javed Colony, Nadeem Colony, Rahimabad, Arya Mohalla, Dhok Khaba, Amar Pura and Waris Khan faced flooded streets, damaged belongings and difficulty reaching their homes.
With major roads and streets submerged and power outages reported in several areas, citizens were left facing prolonged disruption as rescue and drainage operations continued.
