Heavy rain raises urban flooding risk in twin cities

RAWALPINDI: Rain ranging from light to heavy fell across Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Murree on Monday, submerging low-lying areas in parts of the region and prompting authorities to remain on alert after the Pakistan Meteorological Department warned of more downpours and possible urban flooding through Wednesday.

The rainfall began at 5:50am and lasted for about an hour, lowering the temperature to 34 degrees Celsius. The day started with cloudy and relatively pleasant conditions before sunshine returned later. In central city areas, light rain left roads muddy, while heavier showers near the Soan River and along the GT Road stretch from Soan River to Rawat flooded the road leading towards DHA Phase-II. Water also collected on Adiala Road, causing problems for commuters. Ongoing construction in Ganjmandi and Saidpur Road further worsened muddy conditions.

Murree received 106 millimetres of rain, while Islamabad recorded 28mm at Saidpur, 22mm at Zero Point and 12mm at Golra. In Rawalpindi, rainfall was measured at 1mm each in Chaklala, Pirwadhai and Gawalmandi, 9mm at Kutchery and Shamsabad, and 8mm at New Kattarian.

Weather alert and flood warning

A Met Office official said monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal were affecting the upper parts of the country and were expected to persist until Wednesday. He added that a westerly wave was also likely to influence upper and central parts from Tuesday.

The department forecast widespread intermittent rain, windstorms and thundershowers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Islamabad, Punjab, northeastern Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, with heavy to very heavy rainfall possible at isolated places. Hot and very humid weather was expected in the southern parts of the country.

The Met Office also warned that heavy rain could trigger landslides in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Buner, Mansehra and Abbottabad, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galiyat and Kashmir. Flash flooding could occur in local streams and nullahs in Kashmir, Murree and Galiyat, northeastern Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, the hill torrents of Dera Ghazi Khan and northeastern Balochistan. Urban flooding was also possible during the wet spell in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Multan and Faisalabad. The department added that windstorms, lightning and heavy rain could damage weak structures, including solar panels, electric poles and billboards.

Authorities on alert

In view of the forecast, the district administration, Water and Sanitation Agency, Civil Defence Department and Rescue 1122 remained on high alert for any emergency.

Wasa Managing Director Azizullah Khan said Monday’s rainfall had not raised the water level in Leh Nullah, which stood at 5 feet at Kattarian Bridge and 4 feet at Gawalmandi. He said a stronger spell was expected on Tuesday and Wednesday and could increase the nullah’s level, adding that arrangements had been made to handle the situation. He also said more rain was expected in July and that Rawal Dam was likely to fill in the coming days, while the water level in Khanpur Dam was also expected to rise.

In Murree, where more than 106mm of rain was recorded over the last 24 hours, the district administration also put all relevant institutions on alert. Continuous rainfall improved the weather and increased tourist arrivals to the hill station. Deputy Commissioner Murree Agha Zaheer Abbas Shirazi said that the administration was closely watching the rainfall situation and that all concerned departments were active in the field.

"The staff of Rescue 1122, police, traffic police, municipal institutions, highways department and other institutions are performing their responsibilities to provide all possible facilities to citizens and tourists," he said.

Shirazi added that the district control room was monitoring the situation around the clock, while sensitive points, drains, highways and landslide-prone areas were being watched for prompt action in the event of any untoward incident.