Heavy rains and hailstorms lashed northern Pakistan and several cities across Punjab on Saturday, breaking the intense heatwave but also causing widespread disruption and structural damage.
In Islamabad, severe rain and a powerful hailstorm led to the collapse of a canteen roof at Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU). Adjacent Rawalpindi saw authorities declare a rain emergency, with the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) deploying personnel and machinery across the city.
The deputy commissioner of Islamabad instructed officials to monitor low-lying zones, under-construction buildings, and stormwater drains to prevent flooding.
Multiple neighborhoods experienced power outages due to storm-related damage. Large hail and strong winds caused concerns about damage to solar panels and windows. Daylight hours turned eerily dark as thick clouds covered the sky, forcing drivers to use headlights due to low visibility.
The storm extended into Punjab, battering areas including Gujrat, Daska, Wazirabad, and Gujranwala. Strong winds brought down trees and billboards, damaging parked vehicles. In Mandi Bahauddin and surrounding regions, the gusty winds exacerbated the situation.
In Attock, wind-driven rain and hail resulted in major damage, including a tree falling onto vehicles at the local police station, causing financial losses in the millions. Other incidents involving collapsed walls and fallen trees were also reported across the city. Fortunately, no casualties were recorded.
Further north, Swat, Mingora, and nearby regions experienced intense rainfall and hail, leading to flash floods in streams and drainage channels. The adverse weather also impacted areas in Haripur, Mansehra, Balakot, Abbottabad, Galyat, Thandiani, Muzaffarabad, and Hatyan Bala, as well as Khyber’s Tirah Valley and surrounding areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned of continued thunderstorms and hailstorms across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and various parts of central and southern Punjab. Cities expected to be affected include Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sahiwal, and Sargodha.
