RAWALPINDI: Rain lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Sunday. Water inundated low lying areas while the Met Office predicted more rains in the next 24 hours. Rain may generate floods and trigger landsliding in several areas of the country.

Even though, rain brought down the temperature to 33 degrees, the humidity level remained at 70 percent.

The Meteorological Department recorded 27 millimetres of rainat Zero Point, 32mm at Saidpur, 22mm at Golra, 34mm at Bokra in Islamabad while 40mm rain was recorded at Chaklala, and 11mm at Shamsabad in Rawalpindi.

According to an official, monsoon currents are penetrating in upper and central parts of the country.

A westerly wave is also affecting upper parts of the country.

More rain-wind/thundershower is expected in Kashmir, upper/central Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, North Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Isolated heavy falls are also expected in Punjab.

He said heavy rains may generate urban flooding and flash flooding in local nullahs of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Kasur, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Dir, Swat, Peshawar, Mardan, Malakand, Bajaur, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, Bannu and Tank during the period.

He said that rainfall may trigger landslides in Kashmir, Galiyat, Murree, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Chillas, Diamir, Gilgit, Hunza, Astore and Skardu during the forecast period. Travellers and tourists are advised to remain more cautious during the forecast period.

When contacted, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Managing Director Mohammad Tanveer said that water level remained low in the nullah.

He said water accumulated in some areas of the city but it was drained out in the morning. He said that the city was divided in four sectors and flood response units had been deployed to drain out water from city areas.

He said that teams reached the spot in the night and drained out water from the area.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2022