Dams burst as 427mm rain wreaks havoc in Chakwal, kills 63 in Punjab, relief operations underway

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District Admn declares rain emergency: Flood enters Kattas Raj temples: Army rescues 10 people in Chakwal: Sirens also sounded in Rawalpindi after 200mm rain fills Nullah Lai: KP on high alert after glacier bursts warning

2025-07-17T10:20:00+05:00 News Desk

Record 427 millimeters of rain, recorded in Chakwal and its suburbs in only 10 hours, led to flooding prompting the district administration to declare a rain emergency, while the death toll in rain-related incidents in the country during the entire monsoon season rose to 180, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday. 

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The flood triggered by the heavy rain caused a breach in a Chakwal dam, which led to mass evacuation of the population residing in nearby areas.

Rainwater entered people’s homes, forcing them to spend the night under open skies.   

The floodwater has entered Kattas Raj temples in Chakwal with a number of areas including Ararr Mughlan, Takiya Murad Shah, Mohra Mast, Khanpur, Choasaidan Shah were facing the flood situation.

Rain emergency declared in Pindi, Punjab enforces Section 144

 According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), a rain emergency has been declared in Rawalpindi, with a local holiday announced. Evacuation efforts are underway in low-lying areas around Nullah Lai. Rescue teams, with the support of the Pakistan Army, are actively conducting operations.

The Punjab government has enforced Section 144 across the province in response to the prevailing weather conditions. According to the Punjab Home Department, a notification has been issued banning all forms of swimming in dams, rivers, canals, ponds and lakes. The order has also prohibited bathing in rainwater accumulated in streets, roads, open areas and other public places. Unauthorised boating in dams, rivers, canals, ponds and lakes has similarly been banned. The restrictions under Section 144 will remain in force until August 30, the department confirmed. The home department said the ban has been imposed as a precautionary measure to safeguard human life in view of the current weather situation. 

Rescue operation continues in Rawalpindi during flash floods and District Emergency Officer Rawalpindi has canceled all holidays of the staff. More than 400 rescue personnel are engaged in emergency operations. 17 rescue boats are also involved in the operation at different locations. 

So far, 58 people have been safely rescued from the flash flood. Rescue teams conducted operations in Raja Bazaar, Sangjani, Ladyan Chakri, Blue World Society, Gulshan Iqbal, Dhok Kashmirian, Garibabad and Police Foundation. All residents of Ladyan will be safely evacuated from the floodplain. 

 Power system badly damaged in Rawalpindi, Chakwal and Jhelum 

 Amid heavy rains, power system was badly damaged in Rawalpindi, Chakwal and Jhelum districts on Thursday leaving around forty nine thousands power consumers in lurch. 

The heavy rain and flash floods washed away several transformers, electricity poles and wires in various areas. 47 high-voltage poles of ISCO were destroyed and 7 LT poles and wires were also washed away by rain and flash floods. In Chakwal, five feeders were damaged which led to power outages in various areas. 

Power supply severely affected in Talagang, Dhadial, PD Khan and Chakwal tehsils. Rain also wreaked havoc in Jhelum too as power system down in Dumeli, Sangoi areas. 

 63 people killed in 24 hours

Heavy rains have been linked to 63 deaths in the last 24 hours across Pakistan, taking the toll to about 180 since the arrival of the monsoon in late June, the government's disaster agency said on Thursday.

Torrential rain has poured almost without pause across parts of Punjab since Wednesday morning, causing urban flooding.

Residents living near a river that runs through Rawalpindi, next to the federal capital Islamabad, have been ordered to evacuate after a sharp rise in the water level.

"In the last 24 hours, 63 people were killed and 227 injured across Pakistan, with the majority of fatalities reported from Punjab," a spokeswoman for the National Disaster Management Authority told AFP, adding that the toll had been counted at 8:00 am (0300 GMT) on Thursday.

Fifteen of the 63 dead were reported in Lahore, nine each in Faisalabad and Okara, five in Sahiwal whereas three died in Pakpattan.

She said around 180 people have been killed, including 70 children, and about 500 injured since the start of the monsoon on June 26.

"Residents of vulnerable areas should prepare emergency kits with food, water, and essential medicines for three to five days in case of an emergency," said the officials.

A man and his son were killed in Khewal area of Chakwal, while a pregnant woman and her child were seriously wounded.

In Budhyal area, walls collapsed while the floodwater also washed away cattle. 

Rain drains Bhanao, Kulhayan, Saroli and others burst their banks, while two vehicles and three people were washed away, following a breach in a dyke in Panwal Dam; two were rescued, while the search for the third one was underway till last reports came in.

According to the spokesman for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the rescue operation was underway to shift the stranded people to safe locations. 

“In view of an alarming situation, the district administration is in contact with the Pakistan Army,” he said, adding that the operation would continue till the last person was rescued.  

He informed that the Rescue 1122, the district administration and the Civil Defence were participating in the operation. “PDMA DG Irfan Ali Kathia is supervising the operation,” the spokesman said, and appealed to the people to stay in safe places. 

On the other hand, heavy showers lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) during the last 24 hours, disrupting routine life in these areas. 

The downpour led to a significant rise in the water level in Rawalpindi’s Nullah Lai; it was recorded at 18 feet at both Katarian and Gawalmandi, prompting the administration to sound alarm bells declaring a rain emergency in the city and evacuate the people stranded in these areas.  

Heavy machinery has been brought to the low-lying areas to drain out the rainwater. 

The twin cities received over 200 millimeters of rain. 

The highest amount of rainfall in Rawalpindi and Islamabad was recorded in Chaklala (185 millimeters), followed by Gawalmandi (175 mm), Katarian (165 mm) Pir Widhai (158 millimeters), Bokra (157 millimeters), Golra (149 mm), Shamsabad (128 mm), 125 mm at H-8/2 and 120 millimeters at Saidpur.

Holiday declared in Rawalpindi

On the other hand, inclement weather forced the district administration to declare a holiday in Rawalpindi.

The deputy commissioner issued a notification in this regard and directed the people to stay indoors. 

Fateh Jang-Rawalpindi road closed

The road connecting Fateh Jang to Rawalpindi was closed following intermittent rainfall since last night.

Rain drains and streams burst their banks while the Shahpur Dam was filled with water.

Two kids die in Muridke

Two children drowned in water accumulated near Sultan Park in Muridke.

Rescue 1122 employees fished out their bodies and handed them over to their families.

Torrential rain in Rawalakot

Heavy rain in and around the AJK city of Rawalakot turned the weather chilly at higher elevations while pleasant at lower elevations. 

The downpour led to a considerable rise in water levels in streams and nullahs besides the suspension of power supply to some localities.

River Kunhar in low flood in Mansehra

River Kunhar was in low flood after intermittent rainfall in Mansehra and its outskirts.

Rain was also reported from Kaghan Valley, Naran and Shogran.

The district administration advised people travelling to the upper areas to take precautionary measures. “Stay away from streams, nullahs and the areas vulnerable to landslides,” it warned.  

In view of the rainfall, the district administration imposed Section 144 in order to deter people from bathing in rivers and drains.”

Three people were killed in Akbari Gate area of Lahore after the roof of their house caved in.

Their bodies were recovered from underneath the rubble.

Rescue 1122 personnel said that rescue activities continued for 12 hours. 

Glacier bursts feared in KP

The administrations in Chitral, Dir, Swat and Kohistan were put on high alert after the Met Office warned of more heavy rains in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa coupled with warning of glacier bursts.

The PDMA also warning citizens not to drive their vehicles through floodwater.

There were reports of flooding in streams and nullahs in different areas of Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir after heavy rain overnight, with authorities warning residents of landsliding.

Army rescues 10 people in Chakwal

The jawans of the Pakistan Army finally arrived in Chakwal to participate in the rescue operation. 

As many as 25 people got stuck in floodwater in Dhok Badair village. Of these, 10 were later rescued. 

Army jawans distributed life jackets among the affected people. 

Army’s teams used helicopters to shift the people to safe locations.

Two brothers die in Faisalabad

Two brothers were killed while their parents and a sister were seriously injured after the roof of their house caved in in Allama Iqbal Colony in Faisalabad. 

The deceased were identified as Muhammad bin Khalid and Muhammad Sohaib. 

Khalid, Farhana and a 12-year-old Shanza were injured. 

Two drown in Rawalpindi 

One person drowned in a rain drain in Lala Zar-II locality of Rawalpindi, while an eight-year-old child drowned in a drain in Hathi Chowk in Saddar area of the city.

Nadeem was standing close to a drain when he fell into a drain and was swept away by floodwater. 

Operation was underway to recover the bodies of the man and the child till last reports came in. 

Breach develops in dam in Fateh Jang

Several low-lying areas were inundated following a breach in an embankment in Fateh Jang in Attock. 

It was feared that several villages in Pindi Gheb, Chakki and Nowshera might be submerged. 

To avert the possible loss of life and property, the district administration asked people to move to safe locations immediately. 

Announcements were made from the loudspeakers of mosques, urging people to relocate. 

The administration said they were keeping an eye on the situation. 

https://x.com/Rayahmadbhatti/status/1945780936122986852

The Rawalpindi Administration on Thursday began evacuating people from low-lying areas that were flooded due to heavy rain, which had been pouring over the twin cities for more than 15 hours.

The district administration sounded sirens to warn residents about the flooding caused by the heavy rain. The water level in Leh Nullah was rising and currently measured about 21 feet at Katarian and 20 feet at Gawalmandi. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, over 230 mm of rain had fallen in the twin cities, a spokesman for WASA Rawalpindi said.

 Because of the weather, the deputy commissioner declared a one-day holiday in Rawalpindi district and asked people to stay at home unless absolutely necessary. He urged citizens to cooperate with the teams from the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), Rawalpindi Waste Management Company, and the administration, and warned them to avoid going near water in low-lying areas.

Rainwater had collected at many spots on Murree Road, especially at Committee Chowk underpass, Murree Chowk, Banni Chowk, Jamia Masjid Road, Iqbal Road, and other city roads, causing traffic disruptions.

A WASA spokesman said their staff, along with heavy machinery, was working hard to drain water from roads and low-lying areas. All resources were being used for drainage, with operations personally supervised by WASA Managing Director Saleem Ashraf. The spokesman added that Punjab Minister for Housing Bilal Yasin and Secretary Housing Noorul Amin Mengal were in constant contact with the WASA managing director.

According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, rain measurements included 132 mm at Saidpur Village, 164 mm at Golra (near E-11), 185 mm at Bokra (CTTI I-12), 152 mm at PMD (H-8/2) in Islamabad, and 158 mm at Shamsabad (RAMC). In Rawalpindi, 235 mm was recorded at Katcheri (near Chaklala), 196 mm at Pirwidahi, 220 mm at Gawalmandi, and 200 mm at New Katarian.

Reporters: Mohsin Jaffery, Rozeena Ali, Hashir Warraich, Irshad Qureshi, Rafaqat Awan, Rana Zaman, Syed Masood Gardezi, Syed Noman Shah, Faran Yamin, Ahmad Mansoor, Tayyab Maqbool and Ershad Qureshi

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