ISLAMABAD: A sudden and intense hailstorm lashed Islamabad and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday afternoon, damaging property and disrupting daily life as large hailstones pelted the region.
With no prior warning from the Met Office, the storm caught residents by surprise and lasted around 35 minutes, bringing with it strong winds and heavy rain. In Islamabad’s Tarnol area, the storm uprooted trees, shattered car windshields, and damaged rooftop solar panels, leading to traffic disruptions and brief power outages in some localities.
The hailstones — unusually large in size — wreaked havoc on exposed vehicles and infrastructure, while the accompanying rainfall led to flash flooding in several low-lying areas of the capital. Water overflowed drainage systems, leaving commuters stranded and roads waterlogged.
KP Also Hit Hard
Parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa experienced similar conditions, with hail and wind damaging crops, snapping tree branches, and disrupting traffic on key highways.
‘A Wild and Welcome Break’
Despite the damage, many residents — including politicians — took to X (formerly Twitter) to share videos and reflections on the storm. While some voiced concern over the lack of advance warnings, others described the wild weather as a “refreshing break from the rising temperatures.”
“It was chaotic and beautiful all at once,” wrote one federal lawmaker, posting a video of hailstones clattering against his car windshield.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department is expected to issue a post-storm analysis and assess the chances of further rain or hail activity in the coming days.
