RAWALPINDI:
Torrential rains lashed Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Friday, intensifying the cold and nearly paralyzing daily life as rainwater seeped through dilapidated structures, prompting municipal authorities to issue preemptive evacuation notices to homeowners and tenants.
Prolonged power outages disrupted business activity throughout the day, further hampering daily life. Severe congestion on main roads and residential areas compounded disruptions while heavy cloud cover, thunder and lightning persisted. Light hail was also reported in several localities.
All low-lying areas were flooded and key arterial roads including Mall Road, Murree Road, Rawal Road, Saddar Markets, underpasses and city center streets were submerged, making travel extremely difficult. The drainage system was affected, leaving sewage to stagnate in vulnerable neighborhoods, with water levels reaching up to a foot in some areas.
Despite the bad weather, sellers of dry fruits, peanuts, chickpeas, hot soups, samosas, pakoras, tea and coffee reported brisk sales. Construction work on the Kacheri underpass project was suspended due to stagnant water and sludge, while attendance at courts, offices and schools remained noticeably low. Birds have been seen sheltering in dense clumps of trees.
Faced with continued rainfall, the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has imposed a red alert for the entire city. At the same time, record snowfall in Murree and other hilly areas attracted a large number of visitors.
Learn more: Rain and snow trigger cold wave in Pakistan
Wasa Managing Director Muhammad Saleem Ashraf said all manpower and resources have been fully mobilized to deal with any emergency. He said heavy machinery and field teams were deployed to ensure rapid drainage in vulnerable areas, including Liaquat Bagh, Committee Chowk underpass, Murree Road and Sadiqabad, where dewatering operations continued around the clock. He added that Nullah Lai was closely monitored and remained within normal flow limits even as emergency teams were on standby.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 50 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in the twin cities in the last 24 hours, with the highest rainfall recorded in Saidpur (46 mm). Heavy snowfall in Murree and Galiyat contributed to a sharp drop in temperatures in the federal capital.
The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued an alert for January 26 and 27, predicting heavy rain and snowfall in most districts of Punjab, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan and Bahawalpur divisions. All affected services have been put on alert, with emergency control rooms operational 24 hours a day.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, advising tourists in Murree to strictly follow official guidelines. He asked the public to observe precautionary measures and contact PDMA 1129 helpline in case of emergency.
