RAWALPINDI: Rain continued to lash Rawalpindi and Islamabad for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, throwing normal life out of gear.

Murree received 15 inches of snow, with the Met Office predicting more downpour and snowfall during the week. It has also warned of urban flooding.

The twin cities have been receiving rain varying from light to heavy for the last two days. As a result, supply of electricity and natural gas has also been affected in some parts of the garrison city.

Low gas pressure was reported in different parts of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Media Town and its adjoining areas were badly affected by low gas pressure. Same was the case in Shamsabad, Sadiqabad, Satellite Town, Dhoke Ratta, Dhoke Hafiz and their adjoining areas.

The Met Office recorded 32mm rain at Chaklala and 26mm at Shamsabad in Rawalpindi while 25mm was recorded in Saidpur, 23mm at Zero point and Golra, 22mm in Bokra and 15mm at the New Islamabad Airport.

According to the weather advisory issued by the Met Office, the weather system is likely to intensify further in Balochistan from Thursday and extend to upper parts on Friday.

It further stated that rain is expected in Islamabad, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Swabi, Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Charsadda, Bajaur, Kurram, Waziristan, Kohat, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Khushab, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore and Kasur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Rajanpur, Multan, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Okara, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan from January 6 (Thursday evening/night) to January 9 (Sunday morning).

Heavy snowfall is expected in Quetta, Pishin, Ziarat, Qilla Abdullah, Harnai and Chaman from Jan 6 (Thursday) till Jan 9 (Friday).

“Snow in Murree, Galliyat, Neelum valley, Bagh, Haveli, Rawalakot, Naran, Kaghan, Hunza, Gilgit, Skardu, Astore, Chitral, Dir, Swat and Malam Jabba will commence from Jan 6 (Thursday) and continue till Jan 9 (Sunday afternoon),” the advisory stated.

It advised farmers to take necessary measures to protect standing crops from the harmful impacts of stagnant water due to current and expected heavy rains.

Heavy rainfall may generate flash floods in vulnerable parts of Sibbi, Bolan, Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Naseerabad and Kohlu on Jan 6 (night) and 7th and hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan on Jan 7 (Friday).

“Heavy falls may cause urban flooding in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Sargodha on Jan 7 and 8th,” it added.

Possibility of avalanches/landslides in vulnerable areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir also cannot be ruled out during the period.

Meanwhile, rainwater inundated most areas of the garrison city, with the worst affected being Committee Chowk Underpass, Amarpura near Naz Cinema, Jamia Masjid Road, Rawal Road, Sadiqabad and their adjoining areas.

“Water level in Leh Nullah remained normal, however the civic body was monitoring the situation,” said Water and Sanitation Agency Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood while talking to Dawn.

He said all the flood response teams had been put on alert to drain out water from low-lying areas in the coming days.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2022