RAWALPINDI: Heavy rain coupled with thunderstorm lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Thursday, bringing the temperature down and clearing the air from dust.

The rain started early in the morning and continued till night with short breaks. Due to the chill in the air, the temperature lowered to 14 degree Celsius in the capital city.

The meteorological department recorded seven millimetres of rain at Airport, 3mm at Zero Point, 2mm at Saidpur, one mm each at Bokra and Golra in Islamabad and 2mm rain at Chaklala in Rawalpindi.

The wind speed was recorded at 20 knots per hour (37 km per hours) on the southeast.

The Met Office predicted more rains on Friday and said the current wave would continue in the twin cities and adjoining areas.

“A strong westerly wave is affecting upper, central and western parts of the country and likely to persist in the upper part till Sunday,” said the Met Office.

Rain and wind-thunderstorm (with snowfall over high mountains) is expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to the Met Office, rain/thunderstorm (isolated heavy falls) with snowfall over the high mountains is expected in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Buner, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Kohat, Peshawar, Kurram, Waziristan, Bannu, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal and Jhelum till Sunday with occasional gaps.

It warned that heavy rain fall may trigger landslides in vulnerable areas of KP, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir from Friday to Sunday.

On the main roads, the raincreated slushy mess and created problems for the road users. Mud and puddles made the city roads too slippery to drive on.

Motorcyclists bore the burnt at many roads due torain. Some motorcyclists at the busy Faizabad Intersection in Islamabad were seen taking refuge under the bridge while pedestrians and commuters took cover under bus stop sheds or buildings close by.

Markets and shopping malls witnessed less rush but stalls of cornsoups, fish, Pakora andSamosas attracted people.

Therainalso brought good news for farmers in the Potohar region. “Theserains would have positive effect on the entire crops, which is dependent onrain,” said Sagheer Ahmed, a farmer in Rawat.

He said in Potohar region people depended onrains for their crops and therains provided relief to farmers.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2021