Rawalpindi received 200mm of rainfall within hours, the highest single-day total the city has recorded in three years, triggering widespread urban flooding across Rawalpindi and neighbouring Islamabad. The district administration ordered the closure of all government and private educational institutions in both cities as water accumulated on major roads, making travel unsafe for students and staff.
Rainfall Figures Across the Twin Cities
Weather monitoring stations recorded 197mm of rain at Shamsabad, 185mm at New Katarian, and 157mm at Golra, with other parts of the twin cities logging between 72mm and 152mm. The intensity of the downpour overwhelmed drainage infrastructure across several low-lying neighbourhoods within a short span of time.
Low-Lying Areas Inundated
Neighbourhoods including Safdarabad, Sadiqabad, Dhoke Khaba, Pirwadhai and Javed Colony saw significant water accumulation. The Nullah Lai, the seasonal stream that runs through Rawalpindi, saw its water level rise sharply, reaching 29 feet at Katarian and 24 feet at the Gowalmandi bridge, both well above levels considered safe for nearby residents.
Evacuations and Emergency Response
The district administration ordered residents living close to the Nullah Lai to evacuate to safer locations as a precaution. The Water and Sanitation Agency declared a rain emergency across catchment areas and advised citizens to avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improved. Rescue 1122 and Pakistan Army personnel were deployed to affected zones alongside heavy machinery to help clear waterlogged roads, though officials said only two emergency calls were received during the peak of the downpour.
What Comes Next
Authorities have urged parents and students to monitor official announcements before assuming schools will reopen, as conditions are being reassessed based on rainfall and drainage progress. The heavy downpour comes amid a wider pattern of unpredictable monsoon activity that has affected multiple parts of the country this year, keeping disaster management agencies on alert nationwide.
Residents in low-lying areas have been advised to keep emergency contacts on hand and avoid crossing flooded roads or nullahs, as water levels can rise quickly during continued spells of rain.