RAWALPINDI: Rain and hailstorm accompanied by gusty winds lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Thursday, bringing chill to the air.

Black clouds blanketed the cities throughout the day while the gusty winds blew off temporary shelters of mud houses, water tanks and kiosks. However, no loss of life was reported from any part of the two cities.

The hailstorm turned roads and streets in some areas white, but the rain cleared it in a few minutes. It was a bad day for motorists as they had to steer through puddles on roads and face traffic jams.

The Met Office said a westerly wave was affecting upper parts of the country and was likely to persist till Friday morning. Dry weather is expected in most plain areas of the country. However, rain wind-thunderstorm is expected in northeast Punjab, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during morning hours.

the Met Office recorded 19 millimetres of rain at Saidpur, 18mm at Zero Point, four mm at Bokra, three mm at Golra and two mm at Airport in Islamabad while 10mm at Shamsabad in Rawalpindi. Today’s highest maximum temperatures (°C): Turbat 44, Chhor, Mithi and Mohenjodharo 42.

The rain and wind brought down temperatures from 28 to 26 degrees Celsius in the twin cities.Meanwhile, the natural gas and power supply remained suspended in many areas. Iesco officials said electricity supply to some areas was suspended due to gusty winds.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2021