Islamabad issues red alert amid heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding

Islamabad: The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad on Saturday issued a red alert amid heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding.

The Islamabad administration said Sector E-11, Soan Gardens, Bhara Kahu, and Korang Nullah other with adjoining areas are expected to be inundated following a heavy downpour.

According to the advisory, a control room has been set up which will be effective 24/7 to respond to flood-related issues as a top priority. Fire Operations and Urban Search and Rescue squads have been set on high alert to respond to emergency calls.

Soan and Korang rivers, as well as the Simly and Rawal dams, near Islamabad and Rawalpindi, can also flood.

The administration has imposed an emergency in the hospitals ahead of the possible destruction due to the rains forecast by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).

The Met Office has forecast moderate to heavy rain in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. It also issued a warning of downpour-induced landslides and flash floods for upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan.

On the other hand, the district administration has also imposed a ban on entry of more vehicles in Murree as Due snowfall continued which caused heavy traffic congestion.

At least 19 people have been killed after heavy snowfall covered Murree and other northern areas of Pakistan, hampering traffic and disrupting public transportation. 

As per details, thousands of tourists entered the hill station on Friday to enjoy the weather after the area received heavy snowfall—causing heavy traffic jams on Murree-Islamabad Motorway. It has been reported that over 100,000 vehicles entered the hill station.

Police revealed most of the people have been killed due to shivering cold. Among the victims, four were friends and were visiting Murree from Mardan.