RAWALPINDI: The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad witnessed heavy rainfall early on Wednesday morning, inundating low-lying areas.

The Pakistan MeteorologicalDepartment has predicted cloudy skies with light to moderate rain and thunderstorm in the twin cities on Thursday (today).

The residents on Wednesday woke up to rainy day but the rain stopped at 9am and sun peeped through the clouds, providing some relief to the residents of the low lying areas to clear water from their houses.

The rain raised the water level in Leh Nullah but it did not touch its banks. The water level increased in Leh Nullah at 12 feet at Kattarian Bridge and 9.5 feet at Gawalmandi bridge. However, it reduced in the afternoon to 6 feet and 5 feet respectively.

The Meteorological Department recorded 57millimeter in Katcheri Chowk and surroundings, 52mm at Pirwadhai, 36mm at Gawalmandi, 34mm at Chaklala, 29mm at New Kattarian and 18mm at Shamsabad in Rawalpindi while 44mm rain at Airport, 50mm at Saidpur, 36mm at Bokra, 21mm at Zero Point and 74mm at Golra in Islamabad.

He said that Rain-wind/thundershower is expected in Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and northeast Balochistan. Heavyfalls (at times very heavy) are also likely in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Potohar region, northeast Punjab and Kashmir during the period. Hot and humid weather is expected in southern parts of the country.

During rain, the electricity in many areas remained switched off for hours. In mostly areas, the Iesco restored the electricity in the afternoon.

“The workers worked after rain as in most areas, transformers developed fault,” said a senior official of Iesco.

The water level in Soan River increased during the rain. People spent sleepless night especially along Leh Nullah and Soan River in fear of flooding. The rain lashed the areas around Katcheri Chowk to Rawat mostly while moderate rain occurred in the remaining part of the city.

When contacted, Wasa Managing Director Saleem Ashraf said that water accumulated in some areas, but was drained out in the afternoon.

He said that water level in Leh Nullah remained at 9.5 feet at Gowalmandi and 12 feet at Kattarian. He said that Wasa had already imposed rain emergency and machinery deployed in low lying areas to drain out water in case of heavy rain in coming days.

He said that water accumulated at Committee Chowk Underpass, Liaquat Bagh, Javed Colony, Sadiqabad, Satellite Town, Jamia Masjid Road and Murree Road but the teams of Wasa drained out the water on time and in the morning, all the roads were cleared.

Rawal Dam spillways opened

Wednesday rains fill the water reservoirs of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and the spillways of Rawal Dam again opened on Wednesday morning after the water level touched 1750.3 feet.

Arslan Abbas Khan of Small Dam Organisationtold Dawn that this year the spillways were opened on 4th consecutive day.

He said that sirens were blew before opening the spillways so people residing along the Korang Nullah to refrain from fishing and bathing in the downstream because of the release of large amount of water from the lake as it could be dangerous.

He said that in last four days the water level in Rawal Dam reduced to 1745 but on Wednesday morning, it again reached at 1750.3. He said that there were chances of more water by Thursday and it will decide whether or not to open spillways again.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2025