Islamabad on High Alert Amid Heavy Monsoon Rains

News Desk

Islamabad: A new spell of monsoon rains has gripped the federal capital and adjoining Rawalpindi, prompting the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to issue safety advisories for residents in vulnerable areas.

Authorities have cautioned that heavy downpours could trigger flash floods and landslides, particularly in Margalla Hills and nearby localities. Rising water levels in Swan River and Korang Nallah have heightened risks for communities living close to storm drains and low-lying neighbourhoods.

The CDA has specifically urged residents of Saidpur village and Sector E-11 to take extra precautions, avoid unnecessary movement during downpours, and refrain from throwing garbage into storm drains, warning that such practices obstruct water flow and aggravate urban flooding.

Emergency response teams, including CDA staff, Rescue 1122, the Metropolitan Police, and the Municipal Services Directorate, have been placed on high alert. Machinery, rescue vehicles, and medical teams have already been deployed at key points to ensure rapid assistance in case of flooding or landslides.

“This is a critical time. Citizens must play their role by following safety advisories, avoiding practices that block drains, and cooperating with rescue teams to ensure public safety,” a CDA spokesperson said.

According to the Meteorological Department, intermittent rains are expected in Islamabad, with heavy showers forecast for several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, and Mansehra. Rainfall is also likely in parts of Punjab, particularly Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal, Gujrat, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha, and Multan, as well as in areas of southern Punjab including Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Layyah, Bhakkar, and Mianwali.

In Sindh, the weather is expected to remain humid and partly cloudy, though rain has been forecast for Tharparkar, Umarkot, Thatta, Hyderabad, Badin, Dadu, Khairpur, Larkana, Jacobabad, and surrounding areas.