Islamabad and Rawalpindi Receive Heaviest Rain of Current Monsoon Season

On Wednesday, the cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad experienced the most intense rainfall of the current monsoon season, causing the water level in Leh Nullah to surge to 22 feet. The heavy downpour led to widespread flooding in low-lying areas, disrupting daily life and causing significant damage. Several residential and commercial districts in Rawalpindi were inundated, with water entering homes, markets, and shops, resulting in estimated losses worth millions of rupees.

Residents were forced to evacuate their homes, with many taking refuge on rooftops. Roads and intersections were submerged under nearly 2.2 feet of water, leaving vehicles stranded and traffic severely impacted. Educational institutions and offices had low attendance due to the flooding. In Rawalpindi, Fauji Colony and Raja Bazaar were particularly hard hit, with the latter's newly built pedestrian street submerged under nearly two feet of water due to a faulty sewerage system.

A cemetery wall collapsed in the cantonment area, affecting several graves, while boundary walls of houses and government buildings in Westridge also collapsed. In the Westridge area, a drain near a madrassa overflowed, entering the lower floor and trapping nine people, including six adults and three children, who were later rescued.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department issued warnings and advised authorities to evacuate people from low-lying areas, with more heavy rain expected in the region.