RAWALPINDI: Heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Monday bringing a pleasant change in the weather, however inundating low lying areas.

The temperature in the twin cities rose to 35°C over the past few days but after rain it dropped down to 20°C. The Met Office has predicted more rain in the twin cities. An official from the office said that continental air was prevailing over most parts of the country and moist currents had reached its western and upper parts.

Hot and dry weather is expected in plain areas during the day time, while dust-thunderstorm besides gusty winds with rain are expected in Islamabad, Potohar region, upper Punjab, northern Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in the afternoon.

Dr Khalid, spokesman of the Met office toldDawnthat rain would likely continue for the next two to three days as clouds with moisture are present on the horizon in patches. He said that rainfall will continue in the twin cities after small breaks. The weather will likely remain clear during the day and it will rain in the evenings.

Around 26mm rain was recorded at Zero Point, 8mm at Airport while 12mm of rain was recorded in Rawalpindi with light drizzles reported in other parts of the twin cities after Iftar.

Monday’s highest maximum temperatures were: Dadu, Mohenjo-Daro and Jacobabad at 45°C, Shaheed Benazirabad, Rahimyar Khan, Rohari and Sibi at 44°C.

After the rain, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) imposed a rain emergency in the garrison city and activated flood relief rooms in low lying areas of the city on the directives of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Director General Abdul Sattar Essani.

Wasa Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood visited low lying areas after rain and inspected the de-watering drive. Teams of the agency cleared Committee Chowk Underpass and other parts of Murree Road and drained out water with heavy machines.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2021