Rain spell brings relief to Islamabad, Rawalpindi
Hailstorm reported in parts of Islamabad, including Aabpara locality
May 24, 2025
Islamabad and Rawalpindi received strong winds and heavy rainfall on Saturday, bringing much-needed relief from the recent spell of intense heat.
In Islamabad, the downpour was accompanied by hailstorms in some areas, including Aabpara, where rainwater entered several homes, creating difficulties for residents.
Dark clouds loomed over the capital before the weather turned, followed by powerful winds and a sharp drop in temperature. In Rawalpindi, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) recorded 29mm rainfall in Shamsabad, 30mm at PMD, and 10mm in Golra.
Officials from the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) confirmed that water flow in Nullah Lai remained normal. Staff with machinery were deployed in low-lying areas as a precaution. In Islamabad, water started collecting on roads, prompting police to assist commuters.
In Neelum Valley, Azad Kashmir, heavy rainfall and strong winds triggered a landslide at Barian Seri, blocking the Neelum Highway. Abbottabad also reported light rain in some parts of the city.
In Peshawar, skies remained partly cloudy with the temperature recorded at 35°C. The PMD forecast more rainfall in the next 24 hours, predicting that temperatures could rise to 39°C.
Evening showers and thunderstorms are likely in the plains and upper parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
This comes a month after the federal capital and parts of KP were hit by a fierce hailstorm, leaving a path of significant destruction in its wake.
The sudden and intense weather phenomenon, which lasted approximately 35 minutes in Islamabad, brought with it strong winds and exceptionally large hailstones, causing widespread damage and disruption.
That hailstorm smashed car windscreens, damaged solar panels, and destroyed countless tree branches, littering roads and properties. In Islamabad, the storm's intensity was particularly felt in areas like Tarnol, where the sheer force of the winds uprooted numerous trees, leading to severe traffic disruptions and blocking key arteries.
