RAWALPINDI – A relentless monsoon downpour crippled Rawalpindi on Thursday, leaving large swathes of the city submerged, disrupting daily life, and triggering a flood emergency. At least two people lost their lives, while several others remain missing following the intense 15-hour rain spell that dumped over 230 millimeters of rain.
The downpour began late Wednesday night and continued into Thursday morning, inundating roads, homes, markets, and government buildings. Major arteries including Murree Road, Mall Road, and Raja Bazaar were submerged under several feet of water, stranding vehicles and disrupting transportation across the city. Residents reported knee- to chest-deep water in their streets and homes, with water levels rising swiftly before drainage systems could respond.
The rainstorm also triggered a prolonged power outage lasting over 19 hours, rendering the city’s water supply system inoperable and plunging entire neighborhoods into darkness. The waterlogging affected over 100 neighborhoods, with many residents forced to evacuate or seek shelter on rooftops.
In a bid to contain the crisis, the district administration declared a public holiday on Thursday morning, closing all government offices and deploying emergency response teams. Leaves of municipal staff were canceled and local authorities were placed on high alert. However, overwhelmed by the scale of flooding, civil agencies like WASA, the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board, and the Municipal Corporation failed to respond effectively, prompting the deployment of army units to assist in rescue and relief operations.
Tragically, two fatalities were confirmed. One child was swept away in a powerful water current and later found dead, while another person is still unaccounted for. Search operations are underway in flood-affected areas, particularly along Nullah Leh and surrounding low-lying zones.
The situation in Rawalpindi reflects a broader monsoon emergency gripping Punjab, where at least 63 people reportedly died in the past 24 hours due to rain-related incidents. Officials fear the death toll could rise further as rains continue and floodwaters move downstream.
Residents and rights groups criticized the lack of preparedness, noting that despite millions spent on cleaning storm drains and Nullah Leh, the city remains vulnerable to even moderate rainfall. This latest episode once again exposes the weaknesses in urban infrastructure and disaster management planning.
Weather officials have warned of further heavy rain in Rawalpindi and surrounding areas over the coming days, raising the risk of additional flooding and urging residents in vulnerable areas to stay alert and take precautionary measures.
As the city grapples with the aftermath, attention now turns to rescue, recovery, and the urgent need for long-term climate resilience and infrastructure upgrades.
