RAWALPINDI:
Torrential rains hit Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Friday, intensifying the cold and bringing daily life to a near standstill as rainwater seeped through crumbling structures, prompting municipal authorities to issue precautionary evacuation notices to homeowners and tenants.
Prolonged power outages disrupted business activity throughout the day and further hampered daily life. Severe waterlogging on major roads and residential areas aggravated the disruption, while thick cloud cover, thunder and lightning persisted. Light hailstorms were also reported in several locations.
All low-lying areas were inundated and key arteries including Mall Road, Murree Road, Rawal Road, Saddar markets, underpasses and city center streets were submerged, making movement extremely difficult. The drainage system was compromised, leaving stagnant sewage 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 recorded good sales. Construction work on the Kacheri underpass project was suspended due to stagnant water and silt, while attendance at courts, offices and schools remained noticeably low. Birds were seen sheltering in dense groups of trees.
Given the continuous rainfall, the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) imposed a red alert throughout the city. At the same time, record snowfall in Murree and other hilly areas attracted a large number of visitors.
Read more: Rain and snow cause cold wave in Pakistan
Wasa CEO Muhammad Saleem Ashraf said all manpower and resources had been fully mobilized to deal with any emergency. He said heavy machinery and field equipment were deployed to ensure quick drainage in vulnerable areas including Liaquat Bagh, Committee Chowk underpass, Murree Road and Sadiqabad, where drainage operations continued round the clock. He added that Nullah Lai was being closely monitored and was staying within normal flow limits, although emergency crews were on standby.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 50 millimeters of rain was recorded in the twin cities during the last 24 hours, with the highest rainfall 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 relevant departments have been put on alert and emergency control rooms are operating 24 hours a day.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and advised tourists in Murree to strictly follow official guidelines. It has asked the public to adhere to precautionary measures and contact the PDMA helpline 1129 in case of emergency.
