A powerful hailstorm, accompanied by intense rainfall and gusty winds, lashed Islamabad and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Wednesday, causing substantial damage to vehicles, infrastructure, and property.
The storm struck the federal capital in the afternoon and lasted around 35 minutes, particularly affecting areas like Tarnol. Large hailstones shattered car windshields, damaged solar panels, and uprooted trees, leading to major traffic disruptions. Several residents were caught off guard, with children seen running for shelter in open spaces and parks.
Read More: Islamabad Hailstorm Damages Hundreds of Vehicles and Solar Panels
While the storm offered temporary relief from the heat, it also led to widespread power outages. Restoration teams from the district administration were quickly deployed to manage drainage and reopen blocked roads. A statement from the Deputy Commissioner’s office confirmed ongoing damage assessments and efforts to normalize traffic.
“I was in Racecourse Road, Rawalpindi, where no hailstorm occurred. There was only rain,” a resident told Dawn.com, highlighting the storm’s varied intensity across different areas.
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman addressed the incident on social media, linking the volatile weather to climate change. She pointed to increasing human-induced environmental damage, including emissions from fossil fuels, as a driver of such extreme weather anomalies.
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In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed it was actively monitoring affected areas. PDMA Director General Asfandyar Khattak said flood management teams had been deployed in districts like Landikotal and Mardan, and their Emergency Response Centre was operational round the clock.
Tragically, in Chilas (Diamer District), two children were swept away by flash floods. One child died en route to the hospital, while the other was referred to Islamabad for advanced treatment.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had already forecast stormy weather for northern Pakistan, with more rain and winds expected between April 18 and 20.
Meanwhile, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, scheduled to host a PSL match between Islamabad United and Multan Sultans, the rain affected the outfield. Although there was no hailstorm at the venue, the pitch remained covered, as per Crickwick correspondent Abu Bakr Tarrar.
The storm underscores the escalating intensity of extreme weather events in Pakistan, raising further concern about the country’s vulnerability to climate change.
