RAWALPINDI: Heavy rain lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad early on Friday morning, inundating low-lying areas and creating slushy mess on roads in the garrison city.

The Met Office warned of more rains in the next 24 hours and chances of flooding in nullahs.

The rain started at 5am and continued till 6:50am. The water level in Leh Nullah increased but did not touch the dangerous mark.

The Meteorological Department recorded 49 millimeters (mm) of rain at Chaklala, 25mm at Shamsabad and 48mm at Kutchery in Rawalpindi; 27mm at Zero Point, 35mm at Bokra, 22mm at Saidpur, 19mm at Golra in Islamabad. It said monsoon currents from Arabian Sea were continuously penetrating in most parts of the country. A westerly wave was also present over upper and central parts of the country.

Rain-wind/thundershower is expected at scattered places in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Heavy falls-thunderstorm are likely to occur in northeast Balochistan, upper/central Punjab during the forecast period. Hot and humid weather is expected elsewhere in the country.

The weather advisory said heavy rains may cause flash flooding in local nullahs of Dera Ghazi Khan, northeast and southern Balochistan (Zhob, Barkhan, Kohlu, Sibbi, Naseerabad, Musa Khel, Sherani, Harnai, Bolan, Loralai, Khuzdar, Lasbella, Kech, Turbat, Panjgur, Awaran) on July 28 to July 29.

Heavy rains may cause urban flooding in low-lying areas and flash flooding in nullahs of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Narowal, Sialkot, Lahore, Kasur and Faisalabad from July 28 to July 29 and may trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and hilly areas of KP.

Meanwhile, Punjab caretaker Minister Dr Jamal Nasir said teams should be formed to monitor the water level in Leh round the clock.

He said special teams had been formed to deal with emergency situations, while instructions had also been issued to keep landline phone numbers active in case of interruption in mobile signals.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2023