The ongoing monsoon spell has unleashed heavy rainfall across multiple cities in Pakistan, flooding low-lying areas and prompting authorities to declare a rain emergency. Islamabad and Rawalpindi were hit hardest, with Saidpur receiving 90mm of rain, followed by Shamsabad (80mm), Katarian (78mm), and Pir Wadhai (52mm). The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has imposed a high alert in Rawalpindi to manage urban flooding. 

Torrential downpours also hit Mardan, Swat, Abbottabad, Muzaffarabad, and Haripur, where water entered homes in low-lying neighborhoods. In Kalabagh, heavy rain triggered flash floods in local streams, raising concerns of landslides and river overflows in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Tragedy struck in Abbottabad, where two young girls lost their lives after the roof of their house in Darvesh Abad collapsed amid persistent rain. 

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has warned of urban flooding in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Gujranwala, with more heavy rainfall expected in Kasur, Sheikhupura, and Sialkot over the next 24 hours. Officials also cautioned of flooding risks in the Chenab, Jhelum, and Ravi rivers. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), monsoon rains are likely to continue until July 31, heightening the risk of flash floods and landslides. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)