Rawalpindi Flooded by Surprise Rains, Traffic Grinds to Halt

Heavy rainfall swept through Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Thursday morning, significantly lowering temperatures but also causing considerable disruption. The downpour led to extensive flooding in low-lying urban areas due to the inadequate functioning of drainage and sewage systems.

This flooding resulted in severe traffic congestion throughout the garrison city, with several centimeters of water accumulating on major roads and streets. Reports indicate that in some affected neighborhoods, sewage mixed with rainwater entered homes. Traders and residents attributed the pre-monsoon flooding to encroachments and a lack of proper sewerage infrastructure.

Despite the immediate relief from the heat, the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasts that this reprieve will be short-lived. A new heatwave is expected to affect the Potohar region by the upcoming weekend, with hot and dry weather predicted for most of the country. Scattered rain with thunderstorms is anticipated for northeastern Punjab and other upper regions on Friday.

Emergency services, including Rescue 1122 and WASA Rawalpindi, were put on alert. WASA teams were deployed to drain water from affected areas. The spokesperson for WASA urged parents to keep children away from drains and electrical poles during rainfall. Cleanliness work on the Leh Nullah is ongoing and expected to be completed before the monsoon season officially begins.