RAWALPINDI: There was heavy rain in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Monday.

According to the met office, 42 mm of rain was recorded at Chaklala, 47mm at Shamsabad, 45 mm in Zero Point, 17 mm at Golra, 13 mm at Saidpur and 8mm at Bokra in Islamabad. The maximum temperature in Islamabad and Rawalpindi was 28°C. The met office has predicted more rain in the twin cities during the next 24 hours.

The rain began early morning at 5:30 am and continued till 8am. The district administration, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), Civil Defence Department and Rescue 1122 remained on high alert following the rain. Those residing in low lying areas were apprehensive that their houses might flood.

The district administration warned residents of low-lying areas of a flood like situation early in the morning after receiving the forecast from the met office. However, the Leh Nullah did not rise to the dangerous level of 18 feet.

Water in the drain rose to 6.7 feet at Gawalmandi and 5.9 feet at Kattarian Bridge. Wasa moved water sucking machines to low laying areas to drain out the water.

Rainwater entered houses in the city`slow lying areas including Dingi Khoi, Akalgarh, Nadeem Colony, Javed Colony, Dhoke Ratta, Ganjmandi, Jamia Masjid Road, Bani Chowk, Gowalmandi, Sadiqabad, and others due to a choked sewerage system.

Wasa spokesperson Umer Farooq told Dawn rainwater had accumulated on Jamia Masjid Road, Sadigabad, Asghar Mall Road, Saidpur Road and Airport Road. He said an excavator was installed to clean drainage in low lying areas andthat water had accumulated in the downtown area due to a faulty sewerage system, which he said needs to be replaced.

A six-hour electricity supply breakdown was experienced in many areas especially around the Benazir Bhutto International Airport. A shortage of water was also reported in the same area. According to officials of the Islamabad Electric Supplying Company, transformers went out of order due to the rain and it took hours for them to replace. A Reporter