Torrential downpour hits twin cities

ISLAMABAD:

A brief spell of heavy rain on Monday evening turned streets in Islamabad and Rawalpindi into streams, prompting authorities to issue an evacuation alert for residents along Nullah Leh. Murree and Azad Kashmir also experienced torrential downpours.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the twin cities and the Potohar region were placed on alert shortly before the storm hit. Within minutes, major roads in G-11, F-11, F-6, Bhara Kahu, Kuri Road, Chatha Bakhtawar and Ghouri Town were submerged.

In Islamabad, 81 millimetres of rain fell in just 40 minutes, with a total of 99 millimetres recorded over 90 minutes. Officials clarified that while this was a “severe storm,” it did not meet the criteria for a cloudburst, which requires more than 100 mm of rain at o