RAWALPINDI: Heavy rain lashed the twin cities on Friday, bringing the temperature down and filling Rawal Dam for the second time during the current monsoon season.

Rain began early morning at 5:50am and continued till afternoon with small breaks, bringing the mercury down to 25 degrees and providing a pleasant change to the people. The district administration, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), Civil Defence department and Rescue 1122 remained on high alert throughout the day to deal with any emergency.

The Meteorological Department recorded 64 millimetres (mm) of rainfall at Zero Point, 61mm at Saidpur, 25mm at Bokra, 50mm at Golra, 13mm at Islamabad International Airport whereas in Rawalpindi, 55mm was recorded at Shamsabad, 35mm at Kutchery and 45mm at Chaklala.

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Director General Mahr Sahibzada Khan said that the current rain filled Rawal Dam on Friday for the second time during the current monsoon season.

However, he said in Simly Dam, the current water level was 2,304ft out of the total conservation level of 2,315ft while in Khanpur Dam, water level stood at 1,959ft out of the maximum conservation level of 1,982ft. He predicted more rains from September 2 to 4 in the upper parts of the city. However, temperatures are anticipated to rise in the coming month.

Rawalpindi and Islamabad rely on water from three main dams - Rawal, Simly and Khanpur dams. Rawalpindi city and cantonment get water from Rawal and Khanpur dams while Islamabad gets water from the Simly and Khanpur dams. The remaining water requirements are met through tubewells.

In Rawalpindi, there are more than 500 tubewells in the city and 200 in the cantonment areas. “Water shortage will occur in cantonment areas and Islamabad if rains do not occur in the catchment areas of Khanpur and Simly dams,” said a senior official of the Chaklala Cantonment Board.

Meanwhile, water accumulated in the low-lying areas of the garrison city and created a slushy mess on the main roads.

The Met Office official said hot and humid weather was expected in Islamabad and surrounding areas.

“Leh Nullah rose to eight feet at Kattarian and six feet at Gawalmandi bridge. We have already imposed a rain emergency from July 1 to September 15,” said Wasa Managing Director Saleem Ashraf while talking to Dawn.

He said the Wasa teams remained on their toes from morning to afternoon and water was drained with the help of machinery. He said water accumulated in many parts of the city but was cleared before Friday prayers, adding that low-lying areas were also cleared within an hour after the rain stopped.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2024