ISLAMABAD: Heavy rains battered large parts of the country on Saturday, flooding streets, damaging homes and infrastructure, and leaving at least seven people dead in Dera Ismail Khan, officials said.
In the twin cities, hours of uninterrupted downpour triggered flash floods in streams and nullahs, submerging low-lying areas, including Bhara Kahu, where water entered shops and houses and left vehicles stranded. Authorities also opened the spillways of Rawal Dam after the water level rose alarmingly, while several hiking trails in the Margalla Hills — Trails 2, 3, 4, 5 and the path behind Saidpur village — were closed for public safety.
In Dera Ismail Khan, strong winds accompanied by torrential rain brought down trees and electricity poles, plunging several localities into darkness. Roof collapses in different areas killed at least seven people and injured dozens more, rescue officials confirmed.
Elsewhere in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan, and North and South Waziristan, heavy showers disrupted life. In Mardan, Deputy Commissioner inspected relief and drainage operations, where the Water and Sanitation Services Company (WSSC) briefed officials on steps taken to clear inundated streets. However, a roof collapse in Jalalah claimed one life and left two others injured.
Authorities in Gilgit-Baltistan warned of fresh downpours from Saturday, prompting the closure of hotels along the Gilgit riverbank and schools near the river until Monday over fears of rising water levels.
Punjab also witnessed heavy rains, with downpours reported from Gujrat, Kamalia, Gojra, Toba Tek Singh, Kot Addu, Bhalwal, Miani, Chiniot, Chichawatni, and Hafizabad.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, landslides triggered by rain in Bagh district damaged two houses and a mosque, though no casualties were reported. Nikyal and Samahni valleys were also lashed by sustained rainfall, causing flash floods in local streams.
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The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a weather alert, warning of widespread and intense rains across much of the country until Aug 30.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Faraz Mughal expressed grief over the deaths in DI Khan, calling the loss of lives “deeply saddening”. He said Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had directed the district administration and rescue services to remain on high alert. Hospitals in DI Khan have been placed under emergency, while rescue and power restoration teams are working to restore normalcy.
Faraz Mughal urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and take precautionary measures, adding that the chief minister was personally monitoring the situation.
