RAWALPINDI: Rain lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Thursday, bringing pleasant change in the weather, but the health authority worried about spread of dengue.

The rain started in the evening and continued for almost half an hour with small gaps varying from drizzles to light. The residents of the twin cities woke up at Sunny day however, clouds overpowered the Sun in the afternoon.

The Meteorological Department recorded 14 millimeter (mm) rain at Saidpur, one mm at Golra, five mm at Bokra, six mm at Zero point in Islamabad while six mm at Shamsabad, 1 mm at Kutchery, 4 mm at Pirwadhai and 1 mm Gawalmandi in Rawalpindi while it forecast hot weather on Friday.

The met official said that the continental air is prevailing over most parts of the country.

A shallow westerly trough is affecting northern parts of the country, he said. He said that mainly hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country, while very hot in southern regions. Light rain-wind/thunderstorm may occur at isolated places in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and surrounding areas.

The rain created puddles on main roads providing breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes and will affect fumigation drive in sensitive union councils. Sensing the situation, the district administration asked the district health authority to activate teams to drain out the rainwater accumulated in their respective areas. The health experts were of the view that after the rain, the chill in the air is favourable for the dengue mosquito virus.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2026