Heavy hail storms hit Islamabad and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday, causing generalized damage to vehicles, windshields and solar panels, while causing sudden floods after intense rains.
The hail storm, accompanied by strong winds, hit the region in the afternoon today. In Islamabad, the storm lasted about 35 minutes, with large hail breaking windshields of vehicles and branches and leaves of harmful trees. Several trees were uprooted in the Tarnol area, interrupting the traffic flow.
The children who played in parks were taken off guard by the sudden storm and were seen running home with fear.
The downpour and hail brought a very necessary heat of heat in Islamabad, returning the pleasant climate. However, power cuts were reported in several areas, and efforts to restore electricity were underway.
A statement from the Deputy Commissioner’s office said the district administration teams were present on several roads and carried out drainage work.
“The damage caused by hail is estimated. There are reports of broken windows of vehicles and houses in several areas. The traffic flow is guaranteed with the help of the Traffic Police,” the statement said, and added that the civic bodies of the city were dedicated to draining the water.
The PPP senator and former climate change minister, Sherry Rehman, described the scenes witnessed as “crazy”, added that the hail was “going down as granules.”
“This is the extreme climatic volatility driven by climate change, where anomalies proliferate. It is not a random natural event. And it is completely related to human actions such as emissions, which are growing due to addiction to dirty energy,” he said in an X publication.
In a statement issued at night, the provincial disaster management authority of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (PDMA) said that its Director General (DG) Asfandyar Khattak assured the public that the department was completely prepared to manage the expected flood situation in Landikotal, Mardan and other districts.
According to the Special Directives of the Minister of Aid, Haji Nek Muhammad Dawar, the PDMA sought detailed reports of the attached commissioners throughout the province and was taking the necessary measures to assess the damage and provide compensation.
DG Khattak added that he remained in constant contact with local administrations and relevant institutions and had submitted a preliminary report to the Minister of Relief, Rehabilitation and Rease.
He also noted that the emergency response center at the PDMA central office was operational throughout the day, and citizens could call the number 1700 free in case of emergencies.
Meanwhile, the Diamer police spokeswoman, Raja Ashfaq, confirmed that two children were dragged by sudden floods in Chiles. A child died while transported to the hospital, and the other was referred to a hospital in Islamabad to receive additional treatment.
The Department of Meteorology of Pakistan (PMD) had said that it was expected that rain, wind and thunderstorms would spread through the north of the north of the country from today, with dust, thorough storms and rain expected in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other cities today and from April 18 to 20.
A hailstorm had also reached the Federal Capital last April.
Additional Shakeel Qarar reports.
