RAWALPINDI: Rain varying from heavy to light intensity continued for the second consecutive day on Sunday adding to the chill in the air.

Moreover, Murree received 26 inches of snow with the Met Office predicting more rain and snowfall in upper parts of the country during the week.

It recorded 29 millimetres of rain at Chaklala, 21mm at Shamsabad in Rawalpindi, 15mm at Saidpur, 18mm at Zero Point, 21mm at Golra, 22mm at Bokra and 24mm at Islamabad International Airport.

According to the Met Office, a westerly weather system is affecting upper parts of the country and may persist till Monday morning.

It said more rain/snowfall is expected in Islamabad, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir on Monday. Dense fog is likely to prevail in upper Sindh and plain areas of Punjab.

Different areas of the twin cities reported a very low pressure or even absence of natural gas. Media Town and adjoining areas were affected badly while complaints about the shortage of gas were also received from Raja Bazaar, Mohanpura, Shamsabad, Sadiqabad, Satellite Town, Dhoke Ratta and Dhoke Hafiz.

Meanwhile, rainwater accumulated in low-lying areas of the garrison city creating slushy mess on roads and streets. However, the water level in Leh Nullah remained low.

Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mahmood said the civic agency was on a high alert. “Staff and heavy machinery are at a standby in low-lying areas,” he said.

So far, 25mm rain has been recorded in the twin cities and there are predictions of more rains, he added.

Mr Mahmood said Leh Nullah was being monitored but the water level was five feet at Katarian Bridge and four feet at Gawalmandi Bridge.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2022