Heavy Rain Causes Flooding in Rawalpindi, Disrupts Daily Life

Rawalpindi: The twin cities have been hit by torrential rain, resulting in significant flooding across streets and neighborhoods. The water level in Nullah Lai has risen again, prompting alerts for local authorities and residents. According to the Meteorological Department, rainfall measurements include 65 mm at Saidpur, 51 mm at Golra, 110 mm at P-Bookra, and 94 mm at Kachehri. Consequently, the water levels in Nullah Lai have reached 10 feet at Katarian and 9.5 feet at Gowalmandi, leading to a pre-alert in Gowalmandi.
In Rawalpindi, floodwaters have entered residential homes, with several areas experiencing water accumulation of several feet. Streets in Shalley Village, Tench Bhatta, and Peoples Colony are submerged, trapping residents indoors. Additionally, a house collapsed in the Army Colony area during the heavy rainfall. Rescue teams were dispatched to the scene, and it is believed that the house, situated near a drain, collapsed due to the intense rain. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as the house was unoccupied at the time.
All the lanes in the city have also become inundated. After three days of continuous rain, WASA and the Cantonment Board have proven ineffective in managing the water drainage. The city’s streets, including Murree Road, Liaquat Bagh, Mall Road, and Saddar Bazaar, have turned into mini lakes. Business and commercial activities have been brought to a standstill, and the traffic system is completely paralyzed, with traffic wardens noticeably absent. Shops in Mochi Bazaar, Mori Bazaar, and Saddiqabad Chowk have been flooded.
Meanwhile, in the areas along the River Sawan, such as Sharon Colony and Cantt John Colony, homes have experienced water ingress of up to 3 feet, resulting in the destruction of valuable household items worth millions. Residents of low-lying areas have begun temporary evacuations. Managing Director of WASA, Muhammad Saleem Ashraf, stated that rainfall in the Nullah Lai catchment area has intensified. WASA Rawalpindi is on high alert with a rain emergency declared, and heavy machinery and staff have been deployed to flood-prone areas. He assured that monitoring of Nullah Lai is ongoing and that they are prepared to handle any emergency situation.