Thunderstorms inundate Islamabad underpasses as monsoon keeps Punjab on alert

RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD: Strong winds and thunderstorms brought another spell of heavy rain to the twin cities on Sunday, inundating underpasses in the G-6 area and turning roads and streets in Chhatta Bakhtawar into pools of water, while rainwater also entered several homes.

اسلام آباد میں شدید کلاؤڈ برسٹ

فی گھنٹہ۔۔100 ملی میٹر سے زائد طوفانی بارش ریکارڈ pic.twitter.com/fFdcz2LgJP

— Asad R Chaudhry (@Asadrchaudhry) August 23, 2026

The latest spell also disrupted power supply in parts of the twin cities, while the Rawalpindi Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) maintained a rain emergency and deployed staff and heavy machinery to vulnerable and low-lying areas.

اسلام آباد راولپنڈی میں موسلا دھار بارش. ہر جگہ پانی ہی پانی pic.twitter.com/QVMqE219wp

— Muhammad Suhail ALI. (@MuhammaddSuhail) August 23, 2026

The development comes after Rawalpindi and Islamabad were battered by repeated heavy monsoon spells over the past several days, with earlier downpours causing sharp rises in the water level of Nala Lai, inundating low-lying localities and prompting authorities to carry out emergency drainage operations.

راولپنڈی اور اسلام آباد میں موسلا دھار بارش کے باعث نشیبی علاقے زیر آب آگئے pic.twitter.com/re0BddmdIm

— Sheraz Gardazi (@SheerazShah3) August 23, 2026

Heavy rain, flooding risk forecast

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms in Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northeastern Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir during the day.

وفاقی دارلحکومت میں شدید بارش

پی ڈبلیو ڈی میں سیکٹر سی کے گھروں میں پانی داخل pic.twitter.com/jAkj2cCSqw

— Muhammad Faizan Aslam Khan (@FaizanBinAslam1) August 22, 2026

The department said heavy rainfall is possible at isolated places, warning that intense downpours could trigger flooding in rain-fed rivers, streams and canals.

Authorities have been advised to remain vigilant as the latest weather system could lead to further water accumulation in urban areas and fluctuations in river flows.

Indus remains under flood pressure

Meanwhile, flood conditions persist at several points along the Indus River.

The Flood Forecasting Division Lahore reported a medium-level flood at Kalabagh, where water inflow was recorded at around 397,000 cusecs.

Low-level flooding was reported at Tarbela Dam, Chashma Barrage, Taunsa, Guddu and Sukkur Barrage, while the situation in the country’s other major rivers was described as normal.

The continuing flood conditions come amid weeks of active monsoon activity that have produced elevated river flows, localized flooding and urban inundation in parts of Punjab and other regions.

Authorities have urged residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rain and stay away from rivers, canals and fast-flowing water. Rescue and civic agencies have also been directed to maintain preparedness as further rainfall remains possible.