Pakistan, Sept. 2 -- Torrential rain that began in the early hours of Tuesday caused widespread urban flooding in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, inundating low-lying areas, disrupting traffic and prompting authorities to put emergency services on high alert.

According to the Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Captain (retd) Nadeem Nasir, around 200 millimetres of rain had been recorded in Rawalpindi, with the heaviest impact reported around Nullah Lai. He said water from tributary drains was backing up because of the rising level in Nullah Lai, causing water to enter nearby residential areas.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and local administration recorded heavy rainfall across the twin cities. Shamsabad received around 201mm of ra...