Heavy rains lash Pakistan
18 September, 2012
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| RAWALPINDI: Woman holds umbrella while passing by flooded nullah during rain in the area of Gawal Mandi. |
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RAWALPINDI/LAHORE/FAISALABAD: Heavy rains in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha, and Rawalpindi divisions, and Islamabad and upper parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa badly affected the routine life, with rainwater flooding the low-lying areas and affecting the flow of traffic in big cities.
The rain which started in Rawalpindi and Islamabad in the afternoon continued for more than four hours. Nullah Leh, which passes through Rawalpindi, was flooded and the water level was recorded at 11.8 feet. Islamabad received 115mm of rain while Okara received 117mm.
According to a private news channel, heavy rains in Lahore and Faisalabad during the night between Sunday and Monday led to a drop in temperature and turned the weather pleasant, but the low-lying areas were inundated by rainwater. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecasted more rains in the region during the next 24 hours.
According to reports, hill torrents from Koh-e-Suleman played havoc in sothern Punjab as streams and nullahs were flowing over their embankments. Reports say that rural areas of the Rajanpur districts were badly affected by rains. There was a 100-foot breach in Kadra Canal that flood hundreds of acres of land.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department said the rivers Chenab and Jhelum could witness high floods during the next twenty-four hours.
In Balochistan, Jaffarabad was the worst affected by rain and flood. One report said that water level at Jaffarabad Bypass was between 12 and 15 feet, inundating vast areas along the road, and that water level was rising in southern Punjab after heavy rains.
Many districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, upper Punjab and Balochistan would receive more rain during the next 12 hours, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said.
Heavy rains also lashed various parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, including the Astore district, while snowfall was also witnessed on hilly areas.
The rain which started early in the morning continued throughout the day. Weather in the region turned cold and routine life was disturbed as rains affected the flow of traffic in the area.
On the other hand, shopkeepers increased the price of the wood used as fuel. The people in the area were badly affected by the price hike and urged the authorities concerned to control prices. The Pakistan Meteorological Department said more rains were expected in the next 24 hours in most parts of Gilgit-Baltistan.
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