RAWALPINDI: Islamabad and Rawalpindi received a fresh spell of rain on Monday, with civic departments in Rawalpindi placed on high alert on the commissioner’s orders.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) recorded 33mm of rain at Saidpur village on Monday morning. Golra, near E-11, received 25mm of rain, while Pirwadhai and Gawalmandi recorded 28mm and 27mm, respectively. According to PMD data, 23mm of rain was recorded in H-8, 22mm in I-12 and 29mm in Shamsabad.

In its update, the PMD advised residents to stay away from Nullah Lai.

“Nullah Lai is being continuously monitored, and the public is being kept informed in a timely manner,” Rawalpindi Commissioner Salman Ghani said.

The water flow is currently normal, according to the authorities.

The water level in Nullah Lai stands at 5.5 feet at Katarian and 2 feet at Gawalmandi.

In a post on X, the Islamabad Traffic Police said its officers were ensuring a smooth flow of traffic and urged residents to adhere to traffic advisories and cooperate with the police.

Heavy rain caused two flight diversions, Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said.

A Pakistan International Airlines flight from Paris to Islamabad was diverted to Multan airport, where it landed at 5:44am, later departing for Islamabad at 8:21am, PAA said.

Furthermore, an AirSial flight from Jeddah to Islamabad was diverted to Peshawar due to “bad weather”, landing at 10:25am, PAA said.

Drainage operations were under way in the twin cities, while the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Rawalpindi had deployed staff and heavy machinery in low-lying areas.

Heavy machinery had been stationed at Liaquat Bagh, Committee Chowk Underpass, Murree Road, Dhok Khabba, Circular Road and low-lying areas of Sadiqabad.

Citizens were urged to contact the district administration or the Wasa helpline in case of an emergency.

For the rest of the week, the PMD has forecast mainly dry weather in most parts of the country, while partly cloudy weather with isolated rain, wind and thunderstorms is expected in the northern hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The National Disaster Management Authority has, meanwhile, released a report detailing casualties and damages recorded in rain-related incidents between June 26 and Sept 28.

According to the report, 751 casualties, including 199 deaths, were recorded during this period from across the country.

Among the deaths, 80 were reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 70 from Punjab, 19 from Sindh, seven from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and two from Islamabad.

Moreover, 623 properties were fully damaged and 1,216 partially damaged in rain-related incidents across the country.