RAWALPINDI: The twin cities received heavy downpour accompanied by gusty winds and hailstorm on Tuesday, bringing much-needed relief to the residents who were reeling under searing heat for the last couple of weeks.

The rain started at 4pm, leading to the familiar scenes of flooded roads and hour-long traffic congestion.

The Met Office recorded 13mm rain at Chaklala, 3mm at Shamsabad in Rawalpindi and 10mm at Islamabad Airport, 9mm at Bokra and 1mm at Zero Point in Islamabad. The rain brought down the temperature from 40°C to 26°C.

However, the Met Official official said hot and dry weather was expected in Islamabad, with dust-raising gusty winds during the evening and night.

He said continental air was prevailing over most parts of the country while a shallow westerly wave was present over upper parts of the country.

He said very hot weather was expected in most plain areas of the country. However, light rain-thunderstorm with gusty winds may occur in isolated places in Gilgit Baltistan, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir and its adjoining hilly areas. Gusty winds are also expected in central and southern districts of Punjab during the period.

The highest maximum temperature on Tuesday was recorded in Jacobabad, Sibi, Shaheed Benazirabad 48°C, Turbat, Larkana, Sakrand, Dadu, Mohenjodaro and Noorpur Thal, 46°C.

The downpour left the garrison city with traffic snarls on waterlogged roads. Long lines of vehicles snailed their way on almost all major roads of the twin cities. The traffic police blamed civic agencies for the potholes and insufficient drainage that led to traffic jams.

Most areas of Rawalpindi remained without electricity for hours.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2022