RAWALPINDI: Moderate rain in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and snowfall in Murree added chill to the Potohar weather.

The rain started in the wee hours on Tuesday and continued till afternoon with small breaks. The sun overpowered the clouds in afternoon and sky cleared till the evening. However, the Met Office predicted cold and dry weather.

Due to construction work in the garrison city, slushy mess on the city roads inconvenienced pedestrians and motorists. The Met Office recorded 15 millimeter rain and one inch snow in Murree and 15 mm at Saidpur, 14 mm at Zeropoint, 12 mm at Bokra, 11 mm at Golra, 8 mm at Islamabad Airport in Islamabad , while 12 mm at New Kattarian, 10 mm at Gawalmandi, 11 mm at Shamsabad, 8 mm at Katcheri and Pirwidahi respectively in Rawalpindi.

A Met official said that the continental air is prevailing over most parts of the country. A shallow westerly wave is affecting extreme north of the country. “Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country, while very cold/partly cloudy in hilly areas,” he said.

After the rain, commissioner Abdul Amer Khattak has directed the district administration along with all concerned departments to remain on high alert and ensure full preparedness.

He stated that Wasa, Municipal Corporation, Rescue 1122, the Health Department, Police, and other concerned departments should remain active in the field especially District Murree to keep all emergency services fully functional. The commissioner emphasized that timely drainage of rainwater in low-lying areas must be ensured and special attention be given to the cleaning of drains and nullahs.

Wasa has been instructed to keep all de-watering pumps fully operational, while Rescue 1122 has been directed to remain prepared to deal with any emergency situation, particularly any possible emergency in Murree.

He further said that during rainfall, effective measures should be taken by the police and traffic police to ensure smooth traffic flow and to prevent inconvenience to the public. The Health Department has also been directed to keep medical facilities and staff on alert in view of any potential emergency.

The commissioner made it clear that the protection of life and property of the public is the top priority of the district administration, and no negligence in this regard will be tolerated. He said that all officials will remain present in their respective areas to personally monitor the situation.

The Rawalpindi Waste Management Company has also been instructed to remain active in the field and ensure cleaning of drains, smooth drainage of rainwater, and timely collection of waste in rural areas during rainfall.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2026