RAWALPINDI: The heavy rain accompanied by gustywindsthat lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Thursday evening brought much-needed respite from the hot weather.

Earlier in the day, the temperature swelled to 39 degrees Celsius but in the evening black clouds appeared over the horizon and the rain brought down the temperature to 32 degrees.

According to a Met Office spokesman, a westerly wave was present over upper parts of the country. Moist currents from Arabian Sea were penetrating eastern and upper parts of the country.

He said partly cloudy weather with rain-wind/thundershower was expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Islamabad, Potohar region, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. Rain-thundershower with gusty winds are expected in upper Sindh and northeast Balochistan on Friday.

He said heavy fall and hailstorm may also occur at a few places during the period while hot and dry weather is likely in other parts of the country.

The Met Office recorded 33mm rain at Shamsabad and 35mm at Chaklala in Rawalpindi, 28mm at Zero Point, 27mm at Saidpur, 25mm at Bokra and 29mm at Golra in Islamabad.

Water level in Leh Nullah increased to seven feet at Kattarian bridge and six feet at Gawalmandi.

Wasa Managing Director Tanveer Ahmed told Dawn that staff had been directed to remain on a standby to deal with any emergency. He said on the directives of Commissioner Noorul Amin Mengal, the city had been divided into four sectors and teams would remain alert in 10 areas which had been declared vulnerable.

He said machinery had also been deployed in low-lying areas, especially around Leh Nullah.

Usually, the water level increased in the nullah when there is a heavyrain in Islamabad and Margallah Hills, he added.

Meanwhile, gridlocks were reported on Jhelum Road from Ayub Park to Soan Bridge, Murree Road, Rawal Road, Jamia Masjid Road after rainwater accumulated on the busy arteries. Rainwater also entered houses along Leh Nullah.

The residents of Arya Mohallah, Tipu Road, Javed Colony, Mohanpura, Amarpura, Ferozpura and Akal Garh remained busy in draining out the water from their houses till late at night.

It may be noted that cantonment boards of Rawalpindi and Chaklala failed to clean nullahs and drains, creating problems for commuters and residents.

The met office recorded 39 mm rain at Shamsabadand 40 mm at Chaklala in Rawalpindi while 33 mm at zero Point, 28 mm at Saidpur, 34 mm at Bokra and 40 mm at Golra in Islamabad.

Published in Dawn,June 17th, 2022