Heavy Rains Disrupt Flights, Flood Roads in Islamabad, Rawalpindi

News Desk

Islamabad/Rawalpindi: Torrential rains in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Thursday brought flight operations at Islamabad International Airport to a standstill, delaying or cancelling dozens of domestic and international flights and causing widespread urban flooding across both cities.

According to airport authorities, British Airways flight BK2160 was delayed by three hours, while a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight to Dubai was delayed by one hour. A private airline’s flight to Karachi faced a two-hour delay. Flights bound for Jeddah, Doha, Dubai, Muscat, Riyadh, and Baku also experienced delays of up to an hour.

The official flight inquiry portal reported the cancellation of six flights to and from Islamabad. The Islamabad–Skardu route was particularly affected, with PIA’s PK-451 and PK-452 flights, as well as AirSial’s PF-121 from Karachi, cancelled due to persistent rain and poor visibility. Flight operations to Skardu were suspended for the entire day.

Heavy overnight rainfall triggered urban flooding in several parts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, severely disrupting daily life. Major roads, including Adiala Road, were submerged, leading to extensive traffic jams. Water entered residential areas, and rescue teams were deployed in affected neighbourhoods.

The water level in Nala Lai at Katarian rose to 15.7 feet, prompting authorities to issue flood alerts for low-lying areas.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the highest rainfall in Islamabad was recorded in Bokra (125 mm), followed by Sector I-12 (106 mm), Golra (97 mm), Syedpur (69 mm), and Islamabad Airport (61 mm). In Rawalpindi, Chaklala received 133 mm of rain, Kachhari 102 mm, Gowalmandi 90 mm, Pirodhai 80 mm, and Shamsabad 67 mm.

Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel as more rain is expected in the coming days.