Schools Shut as Heavy Rain Floods Islamabad and Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: Intense rainfall hit Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Tuesday morning, flooding roads and low-lying neighbourhoods, sharply raising the level of Leh Nullah and prompting authorities in Rawalpindi to close educational institutions. Emergency and drainage operations were underway as officials urged residents to limit unnecessary movement in affected areas.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported that Leh Nullah had risen to 29 feet at Kattarian and 23.5 feet at Gawalmandi. With around 200 millimetres of rainfall recorded in the nullah's catchment areas, evacuation activity began around Kattarian and Gawalmandi as authorities responded to the elevated flood risk.

Rainfall totals showed particularly heavy downpours across different parts of the twin cities. According to PMD data recorded up to 8:20am, Shamsabad received 201mm, New Kattarian 186mm and Golra 157mm. The meteorological site near Islamabad's H-8/2 recorded 155mm, while Saidpur received 104mm. Other readings included 86mm at Pir Wadhai, 74mm at Kutchery and 72mm at Bokra.

The Rawalpindi district administration declared a holiday for educational institutions as conditions worsened. The deputy commissioner's office also advised people to avoid unnecessary travel, reflecting concerns over flooded streets, rising water levels and the difficulties emergency teams could face if traffic remained heavy during drainage and rescue work.

In Islamabad, Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon said roughly 150mm of rainfall, particularly around E-11, had caused drains to overflow and left water standing on roads. Rainwater also entered some basements that had previously been sealed by the administration. Officials were carrying out dewatering operations, while rescue personnel responded after a wall collapsed in the D-12 area. No loss of life was reported in that incident.

Islamabad traffic police issued a separate advisory for motorists, warning that accumulated water could disrupt normal traffic movement. Drivers were asked to allow additional travel time, reduce speed, maintain safe distances, use fog lights where visibility was poor and remain within designated lanes. The warnings were intended to reduce the risk of accidents while flooded sections of the road network remained difficult to navigate.

The latest spell followed rain in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Monday afternoon that had already disrupted daily life and flooded low-lying areas. The Pakistan Meteorological Department had earlier forecast additional rainfall across upper parts of the country until September 5, warning that heavy downpours could trigger urban flooding in vulnerable locations including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Mardan, Swabi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot and Lahore. Authorities in the twin cities are expected to continue monitoring Leh Nullah, carrying out dewatering and rescue work, and issuing public safety instructions as weather conditions develop.