Urban Flooding Alert Issued for Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Other Cities

Rawalpindi and Islamabad face a growing risk of urban flooding as the Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast a strong spell of monsoon rain across the region.

The district administration, Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), Civil Defence Department, and Rescue 1122 remain on high alert after light to heavy rain flooded roads and low-lying areas across the twin cities.

The wet spell is expected to continue through Wednesday, with heavy to very heavy rainfall likely in some areas. The Met Office has warned that intense showers could trigger urban flooding in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Multan, and Faisalabad.

WASA Managing Director Azizullah Khan said the stronger rain spell expected on Tuesday and Wednesday could raise the water level in Leh Nullah. He added that emergency arrangements had been completed to deal with any possible situation.

Khan also said Rawal Dam could fill in the coming days, while water levels in Khanpur Dam were also expected to rise.

According to a Met Office official, monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are entering the upper parts of the country and will continue to affect the region through Wednesday. A westerly weather system is also expected to influence the upper and central parts of Pakistan from Tuesday.

Intermittent rain, windstorms, and thunderstorms are forecast across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Islamabad, Punjab, northeastern Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Heavy to very heavy rainfall may occur at some places, while southern parts of the country are expected to remain hot and highly humid.

The Met Office has also warned of flash flooding in streams and drainage channels in Kashmir, Murree, Galiyat, northeastern Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and northeastern Balochistan may also experience flooding.

Strong winds, lightning, and heavy rain could damage vulnerable structures, including solar panels, electricity poles, and billboards.

Landslides are also possible in vulnerable areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Buner, Mansehra, and Abbottabad, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galiyat, and Kashmir.