RAWALPINDI: Heavy rain lashed the twin cities on Sunday and inundated low-lying areas in downtown areas.

The rain started in the morning and continued for more than two hours varying from light to heavy. Commuters faced difficulty travelling on roads as there were small puddles everywhere, however, the sun overpowered the clouds in the afternoon and the weather became clear.

In many parts of the city and cantonment, traffic signals were out of order which led to chaos on roads. The power supply remained suspended in low-lying areas. This strong spell of rain exposed the performance of civic bodies in city and cantonment areas. The sewerage system in downtown and the area adjacent to Leh Nullah was choked and water entered in houses and shops.

Rainwater accumulated at Committee Chowk Underpass and the road was closed to traffic. Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) installed water-sucking machines at the underpass and on other main roads to drain out water.

The Met Department recorded 35 millimetres (mm) of rainfall at Chaklala, 20mm at Shamsabad and 30mm at Kutchery Chowk in Rawalpindi and 16mm at Zero Point, 22mm at Bokra, 24mm at Saidpur, 36mm at Golra and 59mm at Airport in Islamabad while another heavy spell of rain was forecast in the twin cities during the next 24 hours.

According to another official, a westerly wave is affecting upper and central parts of the country. Rain-wind/thundershower is expected in Kashmir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, upper/central Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, eastern and southern Sindh. Hot and humid weather is likely to prevail in other parts of the country.

On the other hand, the Met Office issued a weather advisory which states that rain-wind/thundershower is expected in upper and central parts of the country with occasional gaps in the coming days. Moist currents are penetrating in upper parts of the country and likely to continue during the next four to five days. A westerly wave is also likely to enter upper parts of the country.

Under the influence of this weather system, rain-wind/thundershower (with isolated heavy falls) is expected in Bhakkar, Layyah, D.G. Khan and Muzaffargarh on Sept 13 and 14 with occasional gaps. Rain-wind/thundershower is expected in Lasbela, Kalat and Khuzdar on Sept 13 and 14 with occasional gaps.

According to the advisory, rainfall may trigger landslides in Kashmir, hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Galiyat and Murree during the forecast period.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2022