RAWALPINDI: Heavy rain continued to batter Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Wednesday, causing Nala Lai to overflow again, triggering evacuation alerts in low-lying areas and leaving students stranded after floodwater entered a madrasa in the Cantonment area.
The persistent downpour, which began around 11:30pm, caused the water level in Nala Lai to rise rapidly, prompting authorities to sound warning sirens in settlements along the drain and place relief and emergency agencies on alert.
According to the Flood Control Room, the water level at Katarian initially crossed 19 feet, reaching 19.5 feet, while it stood at around 13 feet at Gowalmandi.
Authorities subsequently issued an updated warning, reporting that the level at Katarian had climbed to 21.5 feet, while water at Gowalmandi reached 16 feet and continued to rise.
Students trapped as Sehgal Nala overflows
The situation also worsened in the Cantonment area, where Sehgal Nala overflowed following the heavy rainfall. Floodwater entered a madrasa, leaving a number of students trapped inside and prompting authorities and rescue agencies to respond.
راولپنڈی۔ صدر میں مدرسہ بارش کے پانی سے متاثر
مدرسے کے دو کیمپسز میں پانی داخل ہوا
پہلی عمارت میں تقریباً 400 بچے موجود
دوسری عمارت میں تقریباً 150 بچے موجود
150 بچوں کو بحفاظت پہلی عمارت منتقل کردیا
واقعے میں کسی جانی نقصان کی اطلاع نہیں
پانی کی سطح بتدریج کم ہورہی ہے
صورتحال… pic.twitter.com/NTHG8jVDD7— Shahid Hussain (@ShahidHussainJM) August 19, 2026
The administration issued an evacuation alert for residents of vulnerable areas, particularly those located around Katarian, as the rapidly rising water level increased the risk of flooding.
The Flood Control Room said an alert had been issued for low-lying areas around Katarian, while a pre-alert remained in place for Gowalmandi.
Rainfall data showed that 66 millimetres of rain was recorded at Saidpur, 65mm at Bokra, 58mm at the PMD station, 52mm at Golra and 48mm at Shamsabad. Kachhari received 47mm, while Pir Wadhai recorded 58mm.
Other rainfall totals included 52mm at New Katarian and 6mm at Gowalmandi.
The heavy rainfall has placed significant pressure on the city’s drainage system, with the administration and relief agencies maintaining heightened alert to deal with any emergency. Residents of low-lying areas have been advised to move to safer locations and avoid approaching Nala Lai and other fast-flowing waterways.
Officials are continuing to monitor water levels as rainfall persists, with the situation potentially changing rapidly if further heavy rain occurs in the catchment areas.
