Rawalpindi Rain Kills Three as Heaviest Downpour in Three Years Floods Twin Cities

Three people were killed and another was critically injured after exceptionally heavy monsoon rainfall battered Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Tuesday, causing widespread urban flooding and major disruption.

The Meteorological Department described the Rawalpindi rain as the heaviest recorded in the twin cities in three years. Intense downpours flooded roads, houses, markets and hospitals, while overflowing nullahs created emergency conditions in several areas.

Rescue agencies were placed on high alert as water levels rose rapidly. Authorities said Leh Nullah reached 29.5 feet at Kattarian Bridge and 20 feet at Gowalmandi Bridge before falling later in the day.

Roof Collapse and Drowning Claim Lives

A 20-year-old man died after the roof of a makeshift house collapsed in Islamabad’s G-14 area.

Police identified the victim as Faizan Ashraf. Another resident, Raz Mohammad, 65, suffered serious injuries and remained in critical condition.

Heavy rain caused the roof to collapse, trapping both men under the debris. Police and rescue workers recovered them and shifted them to hospital.

In another incident, a 17-year-old teenager drowned in rainwater in a nullah near Esa Nagri in Islamabad’s I-9/1 area.

Police and rescue teams launched an operation to recover the victim’s body.

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In Rawalpindi, a government education department employee also died after suffering an electric shock during the heavy rain.

Police said Sohail Asghar, 50, had moved his family to the third floor after floodwater entered the ground floor of his house in Arya Mohallah.

He later returned downstairs to rescue his pet dog. Police said he suffered a fatal electric shock while attempting to switch on a UPS.

Leh Nullah Reaches Dangerous Levels

Heavy rainfall caused Leh Nullah to rise sharply, prompting authorities to activate flood warning sirens.

The water level reached 29.5 feet at Kattarian Bridge and 20 feet at Gowalmandi Bridge.

Residents living close to the nullah were advised to move to safer locations.

The district administration placed several emergency services on alert, including Rescue 1122, Civil Defence, health authorities, WASA and the Pakistan Army.

Officials later said the rain stopped after around three hours, allowing floodwater to begin receding.

By the afternoon, the water level at Leh Nullah had dropped to around 10 feet at Kattarian and seven feet at Gowalmandi.

Rawal Dam also reached a high water level, prompting authorities to open its spillways.

Islamabad Neighbourhoods and Roads Flooded

A nullah in E-11 overflowed after the area received around 150mm of rainfall.

The flooding affected nearby roads and basements of buildings.

Heavy rain also hit Ghauri Town Phase II, where blocked drainage channels reportedly worsened flooding.

Islamabad’s deputy commissioner said a nullah had been obstructed by slabs, affecting the natural flow of water and causing houses and streets to flood.

Authorities said action would be taken against those responsible for blocking drainage channels.

Walls at government schools in G-6 and Lakhwal also collapsed during the downpour. No injuries were reported.

A protective wall in D-12 also collapsed.

Traffic faced major disruption as water accumulated on several key roads.

Rawalpindi Areas Under Several Feet of Water

The rain caused widespread flooding across Rawalpindi, with water entering homes, shops, warehouses and commercial buildings.

Several localities reported between two and five feet of standing water.

Shah Khalid Colony, Faisal Colony, Dhoke Juma, Fazalabad, Arya Mohallah, Nadeem Colony and several other neighbourhoods were badly affected.

Major markets and roads were also flooded, including Raja Bazaar, Ganjmandi, Bani Chowk, Satellite Town and Commercial Market.

Murree Road and the Islamabad Expressway also faced traffic disruption.

Floodwater entered the Rawalpindi Tehsil Office and parts of two major hospitals.

At Benazir Bhutto Hospital, water entered several rooms in the officer ward and patients were shifted elsewhere.

The basement of Holy Family Hospital was also flooded. Hospital officials moved equipment to safer areas.

Residents said the scale of flooding was unusual, with water continuing to flow through some streets for hours after the rainfall stopped.

Many households reported damage to furniture and other belongings.

Traders and residents also reported financial losses.

Power outages affected large parts of Rawalpindi. Internet services were also disrupted in some areas.

Rescue 1122 Evacuates 60 People

Rescue 1122 evacuated 60 people from flooded areas across Rawalpindi.

The operation included 30 passengers stranded near Rahimabad Bridge.

Rescue teams also evacuated eight people from Kuri Road and another eight from Dhoke Kala Khan.

Six women were rescued from Darulaman.

Emergency teams continued monitoring vulnerable areas as officials warned residents to remain cautious.

Met Office Forecasts More Rain

The Meteorological Department recorded exceptionally high rainfall across Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Shamsabad received 201mm of rain, while Chaklala recorded 191mm and New Kattarian received 187mm.

In Islamabad, Golra recorded 157mm, Zero Point received 152mm and Saidpur Village recorded 105mm.

Officials said Tuesday’s rainfall was the heaviest of the current monsoon season and the highest recorded in the twin cities in three years.

The Met Office forecast further rain and thunderstorms until Wednesday evening.

It warned that moderate to heavy rainfall could trigger landslides in several northern areas, including Swat, Dir, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Murree, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir.

The department also warned of possible urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Gujranwala and Gujrat.

Authorities urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert as more rain is expected.