Heavy rainfall in Islamabad and Rawalpindi has disrupted daily life and severely affected flight operations at Islamabad International Airport. Dozens of flights were either delayed or cancelled, while urban flooding gripped parts of the twin cities.
According to Islamabad airport authorities, British Airways flight BK2160 was delayed by three hours, while PIA’s Dubai-bound flight was delayed by one hour. A private airline’s Karachi-bound flight faced a two-hour delay. Flights to Jeddah, Doha, Dubai, Muscat, Riyadh, and Baku were also delayed by about an hour each.
As per the Islamabad Airport’s flight inquiry portal, six flights were completely cancelled. The Islamabad-Skardu route was particularly impacted, with PIA flights PK-451 and PK-452, and AirSial’s Karachi-to-Islamabad flight PF-121 all cancelled.
Airport sources confirmed that all Skardu-bound flights were suspended for the entire day due to low visibility and continuous rainfall.
Meanwhile, the relentless overnight downpour submerged several areas of the twin cities. Major roads, including Adiala Road, were flooded, severely disrupting traffic. At the Katarian Point of Nullah Lai, water levels rose to 15.7 feet, prompting alerts for low-lying areas. In some areas, rainwater entered homes, triggering immediate response from rescue teams.
Experts have forecast further rainfall in the next 24 hours, and emergency services remain on high alert. Citizens have been advised to avoid low-lying areas and refrain from unnecessary travel.
