Heavy rains that have been continuing for eighteen hours have wreaked havoc in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Around 237 mm of rain was recorded, which led to flooding in the Nala Lai. Danger sirens were sounded and instructions were issued to move nearby populations to safer places.

The bridge over the Swan River was submerged in water, while a flood situation arose in Sangjani. Motorway M-1 was closed from Islamabad Interchange to Burhan Interchange.

Water entered houses and shops in low-lying areas and the roads began to present a pond scene. Twenty-four people were trapped in the water, of which eleven were rescued. A car was also swept away in the storm drain.

The Prime Minister has called an emergency meeting on the flood situation in Rawalpindi and has sought an immediate report from the Chief Commissioner Rawalpindi and MD WASA. The meeting will review the damage caused by the rains and safety arrangements.

Meanwhile, monsoon storms have wreaked havoc in other areas of Punjab. Dozens of villages in Jhelum and Chakwal were submerged, a small dam at Tharabi collapsed, and forty people trapped in the relay were rescued by helicopter. Cloudbursts caused record rainfall in Chakwal, with 423 mm of rainfall recorded. Kallar Kahar received 325 mm, Wahali Zir 325 mm and Asidan Shah 310 mm. A drain in Jhelum overflowed and dozens of cattle were swept away.

Continuous rains are also continuing in the Neelum Valley of Azad Kashmir and the flow of water in other rivers and canals including the Neelum River has increased significantly.

In Punjab, 63 people have died and 290 have been injured due to rains in the last 24 hours. According to the PDMA report, 15 deaths were reported in Lahore, 9 in Faisalabad, 9 in Okara, 5 in Sahiwal and 3 in Pakpattan. So far this year, a total of 103 people have died and 393 injured due to the rains, while 128 houses were fully or partially affected and 6 livestock were killed.

A tragic incident took place in the Akbari Gate area of Lahore where three members of the same family lost their lives when a dilapidated building collapsed. According to Rescue 1122, Zulfiqar Ali’s wife, son and grandson were buried under the rubble while he himself was safe. His daughter Iram Shahzadi had left the house a few moments ago and survived. The rescue operation continued for 12 hours in which rain, narrow streets and hanging electric wires created difficulties.

DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia said that on the instructions of the Chief Minister of Punjab, financial assistance is being provided to the families of the deceased and the best medical facilities are being provided to the injured.

PDMA has directed all concerned agencies to remain in the field and drain water from low-lying areas immediately. Citizens have been appealed not to leave their homes unnecessarily and to contact Rescue 1122 in case of any emergency.

The district administration in Rawalpindi has imposed a rain emergency and announced a one-day holiday. More than 230 mm of rainfall has been recorded in the city, due to which there is severe flooding in Nala Lai and Darya Sawan. Low-lying areas of Chaklala, Bokra and Golra have been submerged.

In Jhelum areas, 25 people were trapped in the flood relay in Burhan Nala and Dhok Badir, out of which 10 were rescued by the Pakistan Army through helicopters. Life jackets have been provided to other affected people and rescue operations are underway.

Around 470 mm of rainfall has also been recorded in Chakwal, which has submerged several low-lying areas. The dams of Bukhari Kalan Dam, Panwal Dam, and Miswal Dam broke, while four people were killed and fifteen injured when houses collapsed.