Torrential rain has left large parts of Rawalpindi inundated, with water entering homes in several cantonment areas and vehicles submerged, as more than 145 millimetres fell across the twin cities (Geo News).
Roads were flooded in Pirwadhai, Sadiqabad and Muslim Town. In Jan Colony a rainwater drain overflowed, leaving water standing in the streets. The roof of a Metrobus leaked.
As the water level in Nullah Lai rose, danger sirens were sounded and nearby residents were directed to evacuate. Levels fell after the rain stopped, dropping to around six feet at Kattarian — down from a peak above 22 feet earlier in the week, when the Met Department issued a flood alert for the channel.
The speed of that fall is characteristic of Nullah Lai and is precisely what makes it dangerous: it rises and drains within hours, leaving little time between a siren and a flooded street.
Flooding was not confined to the twin cities. Low-lying areas of Narowal and Gujrat were inundated after heavy rain, with rising flows in Nullah Bein and other channels.
The Water and Sanitation Agency and other departments were draining water from low-lying roads, and a high alert has been issued with more rain forecast.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted rain, wind and thundershowers across upper and central Pakistan through August 21, as monsoon currents meet a westerly wave — the combination that has produced this week’s totals.
