RAWALPINDI: Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds lashed Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Thursday morning, raising the water level in Leh Nullah by up to 10 feet and inundating low-lying areas.

The rain started before Fajr prayers and continued until 7am with brief intervals. Later, sunshine appeared as clouds cleared, but the rainfall provided relief to residents suffering from hot and humid weather. It brought the temperature down to 30 degrees Celsius.

Several downtown areas were flooded with rainwater following the downpour.

The district administration, civil defence department and Rescue 1122 remained on high alert throughout the day to deal with any emergency. Water accumulated in low-lying areas, where residents spent the afternoon draining water that had entered their houses. Slushy conditions were witnessed in several areas.

The Meteorological Department recorded 54 millimetres (mm) of rainfall at Bokra, 32mm at Islamabad Airport, 14mm at Golra and 24mm at Zero Point in Islamabad.

In Rawalpindi, 55mm of rain was recorded at Gawalmandi, 28mm at Chaklala, 29mm at Shamsabad, 31mm at Kutchery Chowk and 47mm at New Kattarian and Pirwadhai. The department forecast further rain in the twin cities during the next 24 hours.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2026