RAWALPINDI: The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad received rain on Friday afternoon with the Met Office predicting heavy rain in the next 24 hours.

The district administration has declared rain emergency in Rawalpindi.

According to Meteorological Department, widespread rain/wind-thunderstorm with isolated heavy falls occurred in the twin cities. It recorded 39mm of rainfall at Zero Point, 66mm in Saidpur, 22mm at Golra and 21mm at Airport in Islamabad while 4mm in Chaklala and 3mm was recorded in Shamsabad.

The Met Office has forecast more rain and cool winds sweeping northern parts of the country, including Rawalpindi and Islamabad, during the next 24 hours.

“Widespread rain/wind-thunderstorm is expected in Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Hyderabad, Karachi, Shaheed Benazirabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha and Faisalabad divisions as well as in Islamabad and Kashmir,” a Met Office statement said.

Meanwhile, Leh Nullah rose to 6.5 feet in Katarian and six feet in Gawalmandi.

Deputy Commissioner Ali Randhawa directed all concerned departments to remain alert from Friday night to Saturday night to deal with any flood-like situation as per Met Office’s prediction.

He asked the hospitals to remain alert and make arrangements for patients along Leh Nullah from seasonal diseases. The flood relief camps had been activated and health officials will remain on duty.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2019