ISLAMABAD: A powerful hailstorm and heavy rain accompanied by strong winds battered Pakistan’s capital city, Islamabad, and its twin city Rawalpindi on Wednesday afternoon, causing extensive damage to vehicles, residential properties, and green energy infrastructure.
The storm, which also hit parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, brought life to a standstill in the federal capital and the surrounding areas.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had forecast rain and thunderstorms across northern parts of the country, including Islamabad and Rawalpindi, from 17 to 20 April.
However, the intensity of Wednesday’s hailstorm appeared to surpass expectations.
اسلام آباد میں شدید طوفان اور ژالہ باری کے باعث فیصل مسجد کے شیشے ٹوٹ گئے۔ موسمیاتی تبدیلی کی شدت بڑھتی جا رہی ہے.#اسلام_آباد #فیصل_مسجد #موسم #ژالہ_باری pic.twitter.com/Uxy5SGQ615
— Islamabadies (@Islamabadies) April 16, 2025
According to the PMD, various sectors of the federal capital, including E-11, F-6, F-8, G-8, and I-9, experienced severe hail, rain, and strong winds.
In Islamabad, the hailstorm lasted for around 35 minutes, with large hailstones—some reportedly as large as golf balls—shattering car windshields and damaging solar panels, house windows, and skylights.
Witnesses described the afternoon storm as sudden and unusually fierce.
Several areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Swabi, Nowshera, Peshawar, Charsadda and Mardan, also faced damage from wind and hail.
In Chilas, Diamer police spokesperson Raja Ashfaq confirmed that two children were swept away in flash floods.
One child died while being transported to hospital, while the other was referred to a facility in Islamabad for further treatment.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), in a statement issued on Wednesday evening, said it was actively monitoring the situation.
Director General Asfandyar Khattak said that the PDMA was fully prepared to manage the developing flood conditions.
“The Emergency Response Centre at the PDMA’s central office is operational 24/7,” Khattak said, urging citizens to call the toll-free number 1700 in case of emergencies.
Yesterday an earthquake, today this storm
Do you feel secure that Allah will not send against you a storm of stones?
— Surah Al-Mulk (67:17)Just imagine Gaza now, what they’re surviving from 19 months. Allah is showing His power, it’s time to wake-up. #Islamabad pic.twitter.com/FutOy3WZyK
— Ahmed (@ThisahmedR) April 16, 2025
Meanwhile, in the federal capital, the storm severely damaged several solar carports—structures used for charging electric vehicles. Shattered solar panels and bent frames were reported at multiple sites.
Power outages were also reported across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with local authorities working to restore electricity.
In the Tarnol area, strong winds uprooted trees, disrupting traffic and damaging property.
This was an EWE (Extreme Weather Event) in Islamabad. Intense hailstorm that resulted in great damage to property – cars, solar panels, and windows.
I hope this makes our policy makers realize that we need radical climate-change related measures and build safe infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/kIg61Js364
— Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi (@Ali_Abbas_Zaidi) April 16, 2025
Despite the damage, the storm brought temporary relief from the heatwave that had gripped the region in recent days.
The weather turned pleasant following the downpour, with a notable drop in temperature across the twin cities.
Social media platforms were flooded with images and videos showing hail-covered streets, shattered vehicle windows, and damaged homes.
Islamabad hailstorm, from random unrelated videos/pictures you can see mostly backscreens of the HONDA cars have been broken. From what I gather, front screen is imported & other windows/screen is made by Ghani glass Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/IGikuJCPaV
— Suhaib (@SuhaibAyaz) April 16, 2025
