Dry spell ends: First winter rain brings joy to Rawalpindi, Islamabad

People in cities throng food streets, while farmers welcome showers as boon for wheat crop

RAWALPINDI: The long dry spell ended with first showers on Wednesday in the twin cities.

The light rain that swept the Potohar region brought relief for Rabi crops in arid areas, but over flowing sewers, flooded roads and traffic chaos in many urban areas.

The wet spell that poured 10mm rain on the twin cities was likely to continue over the weekend, Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD) said in its daily forecast.

According to the met office, 26mm rain was recorded at Golra, 20mm at Zero Point, 19mm at Bokra, 15 mm at Chaklala, 16mm at Shamsabad, and 111mm at Murree, which also saw light snow.

Festive mood

Winter delights, specially fried food items, were in demand as people flocked to food streets and popular hangouts with the first splash of raindrops.



Foodies in Islamabad and Rawalpindi were seen indulging in traditional winter items like carrot halwa, chicken soup, Kashmiri tea, fried fish, samosa, pakora and coffee.

Eateries at Aabpara, Sitara, Super, Jinnah Super, Karachi Company, Saddar market, Committee Chowk, Raja Bazaar, Commercial Market and other places were over crowded with groups of friends and families enjoying their favourite pastime – eating out.

Dr Aslam Chaudhry, an ENT specialist at Benazir Bhutto Hospital, said that the rain has ended dry and dusty weather bringing relief to people suffering from different types of respiratory allergies.

He noted that the number of patients with complaints related to throat, chest and respiration was on the rise during the past two months.

Farmers overjoyed

The met office, forecast more rains from Friday, advised farmers in the arid area to sprinkle fertilisers in the fields to maximise the wheat yield.

“The rain was much awaited. The wheat crop in Rawalpindi division depends on timely rains,” said Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz, a farmer from the Chontra area. He said wheat was at growing stage and delay in rain could have damaged the staple food crop.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Rawalpindi Agriculture Department Spokesman Haroon Ahmed Khan said the rainfall and use of fertilizer would help the farmers in obtaining extra yield of up to 1,000kg per acre in the arid areas including Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal and Jehlum.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2017.