Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds and thunder swept through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Wednesday, breaking an intense heatwave and bringing relief to residents, though flooding and waterlogging caused disruption across several areas.

In Swat’s main city of Mingora, torrential rain triggered flash flooding in streams and nullahs, submerging multiple roads and disrupting traffic. Residents faced difficulty moving around as water levels in local waterways rose sharply.

In Haripur, the GT Road flooded at several points, and low-lying areas went underwater.

The Met Office said intermittent rain is likely to continue in Haripur and surrounding areas for the next two days.

Abbottabad also received heavy rainfall, with water accumulating on major roads at multiple points. Adjacent areas, including Ghazi and Khanpur tehsils and Haripur, took the brunt of thunderstorms and gusty winds.

In Shangla district, intermittent downpours were recorded across both plains and upper areas, bringing a significant drop in temperatures.

In the twin cities, the rainfall provided marked relief from the heat, with cool winds further easing conditions.

The Met Office said rain is expected to continue in Rawalpindi and Islamabad through Thursday, while KP’s various districts may see intermittent showers until June 20.

District administrations have been placed on alert. The Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad has directed assistant commissioners to maintain continuous monitoring of low-lying areas to respond swiftly to any emergencies.

The Met Office has advised residents to take precautions during rainfall and avoid unnecessary movement near streams and nullahs.