At least 12 people including 11 labourers died in wall collapse incidents as authorities in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi imposed a rain emergency after night-long heavy rain triggered urban flooding in both cities on Wednesday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

All the low-lying areas in the twin cities were inundated by the rainwater which also entered homes and raised water level in Rawalpindi’s Nullah Lai to high flood. The authorities sounded high-alert sirens to warn the public as the water level surged to 19 feet at Katariyan and 18 feet at Gowalmandi in Nullah Lei.

The swollen Nullah Lei has prompted the authorities to call in the Army.

Army soldiers have been deployed along the Nullah Lei to tackle any emergency situation along with the district administration, said the Rawalpindi commissioner.

🚨 Very Heavy to Extremely Heavy Rainfall at Islamabad and Rawalpindi for Past 5 to 6 Hours and still Continuing. An Estimated more than 200mm Rains Have been Recorded in Many Areas. Heavy Urban Flooding in Both Cities while Nala Lai is on Alert for Flooding Situation ,⛈️… pic.twitter.com/XoLzTkVhhC

— Weather Updates PK (@WeatherWupk) July 19, 2023

Heavy rainfall wreaked havoc in the twin cities, disrupted power system, tripping dozens of feeders, and inundated low-lying areas.

The heavy downpour caused an 11-foot high wall to collapse near Golra Morr area on Peshawar Road in Rawalpindi, killing 11 labourers who were working on a nearby bridge project.

The labourers had erected a tent along the 100-foot wide wall which came down on them during the heavy rain.

Rescue teams rushed to the site and were able to retrieve the 11 bodies with the help of the heavy machinery.

A little girl passed away when the wall of her house caved in amid heavy rain in Muhammadi Town in Khanna area.

Meanwhile, the urban flooding in the twin cities was worsening as the rain continued on Wednesday with Shamsabad area experiencing record 188mm rain.

Chaklala recorded 79mm rain, Syedpur 44mm, Golra 103mm, Bokra 138mm

Several passengers were injured when two buses collided on Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway during rain on Wednesday.

Several of the passengers who were injured seriously rushed to hospital in Wah Cantt and Taxila.

Several Punjab cities including Jhelum, Murree and Gujranwala also received heavy rain.

Heavy downpour is also predicted several areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Kashmir. Sukkur, Larkana and Mirpurkhas are also expected to receive rain today.

PM expresses deep sorrow over loss of lives

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of 12 lives due to heavy rain near Golra Morr on Peshawar Road.

The prime minister prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved families to bear this loss with fortitude. He directed the local administration to remain on high alert due to heavy rains in the twin cities of Rawalpindi Islamabad.

 

Reporters Farzana Siddiqui and Ershad Qureshi