Torrential downpour hits twin cities

Authorities warn of further downpours, flash floods & landslides in vulnerable areas

ISLAMABAD:

A brief spell of heavy rain on Monday evening turned streets in Islamabad and Rawalpindi into streams, prompting authorities to issue an evacuation alert for residents along Nullah Leh. Murree and Azad Kashmir also experienced torrential downpours.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the twin cities and the Potohar region were placed on alert shortly before the storm hit. Within minutes, major roads in G-11, F-11, F-6, Bhara Kahu, Kuri Road, Chatha Bakhtawar and Ghouri Town were submerged.

وفاقی دارالحکومت میں شدید بارش کے باعث ضلعی انتظامیہ ہائی الرٹ، تمام اسسٹنٹ کمشنرز اور مجسٹریٹس فیلڈ میں موجود، نکاسی آب کا عمل جاری جبکہ نشیبی ایریاز اور نالوں کی خصوصی مانیٹرنگ کی جا رہی ہے۔۔

— DC Islamabad (@dcislamabad) September 1, 2025

In Islamabad, 81 millimetres of rain fell in just 40 minutes, with a total of 99 millimetres recorded over 90 minutes. Officials clarified that while this was a “severe storm,” it did not meet the criteria for a cloudburst, which requires more than 100 mm of rain at one spot within an hour.

In Azad Kashmir’s Jhelum Valley, a cloudburst in Mohamdu Bela village triggered flash floods in Nullah Qazi Nag, forcing the precautionary shutdown of the Khatai and Chhamfall power projects and cutting electricity to Channari and nearby areas.

Warning sirens were sounded along Nullah Leh in Rawalpindi, and residents were advised to move to safer ground. PMD spokesperson Irfan Virk said flooding in low-lying areas and local streams remained a risk until Tuesday night.

The PMD forecast indicated widespread rain with thunderstorms in Kashmir and northeast Punjab, with scattered heavy downpours expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Lahore and surrounding districts. Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Swat, Dir, Chitral, Kohistan and Abbottabad, could also see intense showers, with a risk of landslides in hilly areas.

اسلام آباد و پنجاب کے مختلف اضلاع میں1تا3 ستمبر تک شدید موسلادھار بارشوں کا امکان۔ جسکے باعث متاثرہ علاقوں میں سیلابی صورتحال میں شدت کا امکان ہے۔مری، راولپنڈی، جہلم، اٹک، منڈی بہاؤالدین، گجرات، گوجرانوالہ اور حافظ آباد میں شدید بارشوں کے باعث سیلابی صورتحال مزید خراب ہو سکتی ہے pic.twitter.com/Hxr0vAtUHF

— NDMA PAKISTAN (@ndmapk) August 31, 2025

Elsewhere, Sindh was expected to remain hot and humid, with chances of rain in Sukkur and Kashmore, while parts of Balochistan, including Zhob, Musakhel and Barkhan, could see thunderstorms. Gilgit-Baltistan was forecast to remain partly cloudy with a chance of rain at isolated spots.

Authorities cautioned that torrential rain could trigger flash floods and landslides in vulnerable regions and urged citizens to remain alert.