Residents of twin cities witness season’s highest monsoon rainfall

On Wednesday, the cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad experienced the highest rainfall of the current monsoon season, leading to severe flooding. The water level in Leh Nullah reached 22 feet, inundating low-lying areas, homes, markets, and shops. Water entered residences to depths of 2 to 3 feet, causing millions of rupees in damages to businesses and citizens.

Continuous and torrential rains disrupted traffic and reduced attendance at educational institutions and offices. Residents sought refuge on their rooftops as water entered their homes, and several graves were affected when a cemetery wall collapsed in cantonment areas. In Westridge, boundary walls of houses and government institutions collapsed.

The Raja Bazaar pedestrian street was inundated with two feet of water due to a faulty sewerage system. Rescue 1122 evacuated stranded seminary students from Iqra Rowzatul Atfal Madrassa on Saigal Street, where rainwater entered the lower floor and stranded 400 students. Fauji Colony also faced flooding, trapping nine people, including six adults and three children, in a house in Gulrez Housing Scheme-I.

Rescue teams successfully evacuated them without any casualties. The Met Office issued an alert to district administration offices and Rescue 1122 to ring sirens around Leh Nullah. The Pakistan Meteorological Department warned residents of low-lying areas to evacuate due to the rising water level. A strong spell of rain continued for several hours, causing water to accumulate in the streets and at intersections, making vehicles submerged in several areas.

Despite the challenges, the Civil Defense Department and Rescue 1122 remained on high alert throughout the day to handle any emergency.