RAWALPINDI: A chill returned to the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad after rainfall on Saturday, which also brought relief to farmers from the Potohar region and residents with pollen allergies.

However, the rainfall also caused difficulties for residents in low-lying areas.

The rain began early on Saturday and continued intermittently until 8am, after which heavy rainfall occurred until the afternoon.

The Met Office recovered six millimetres of rainfall in Islamabad and 8mm in Rawalpindi. It also said that a westerly wave was affecting the country’s northern areas.

Another shallow westerly wave is likely to affect the western areas of the country on Sunday evening and Sunday night. More rain-thunderstorms – with light snowfall over the hills – and strong winds are expected in isolated parts of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab, Islamabad, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Cold and dry weather is expected elsewhere in the country.

Many residents opted to stay indoors on Saturday, in order to avoid the mud and water that accumulated in the roads and streets of the city. Main markets and city centres also appeared deserted.

However, the rainfall was a blessing for people with pollen allergies. Dr Nadeem Ahmed from the Holy Family Hospital told Dawn the rain would decrease the pollen count in the air.

However, he said, people with pollen allergies should avoid the wind, which carries pollen. He added that viral infections such as cough and flu would also be reduced.

The rain also benefited farmers of arid agricultural land in and around the twin cities, with farmers said the rain was beneficial for wheat and chickpeacrops in the region.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2018