A retired Army officer and his daughter were swept away by flash floods in a private housing society on Thursday morning following torrential rains that lashed twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The incident occurred around 8 AM when Colonel Ishaq Qazi, retired, left his home to drop off his 25-year-old daughter at DHFA Spivey. As they exited their house, their vehicle was caught in rapidly rising floodwaters and swept into a nearby storm drain.
Eyewitnesses said that Colonel Qazi attempted to drive across the overflowing stream near the edge of the road but was unable to make it across. Both fathers and daughters reportedly called for help from inside the vehicle before it was submerged.
The dead bodies have not been recovered yet. However, extensive stress search operations have been ongoing for three days. Rescue teams arrived at the scene shortly after the incident, but strong water currents and high water levels hampered the search operation. Efforts to relocate the vehicle and victims continued throughout the day and entered into its third day with no signs of hope.
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However, parts of cars, like bumper and doors, have been recovered as water levels have gone down. District Emergency Officer Sabkatullah said rescue boats and other necessary equipment were deployed at the Swan River and other vulnerable points across the city. Special emergency teams are on alert to respond to flash flood incidents.
A rain emergency has been declared in Rawalpindi, and Section 114 has been imposed to prevent public movement near water channels. Citizens have been advised not to dispose of garbage or construction waste into storm drains as it blocks the flow of water and worsens flooding.
The incident comes amid continued monsoon rains that have inundated low-lying areas across both Islamabad and Rawalpindi, triggering flood alerts and emergency responses.