VIDEO: Two dead, cars float on streets as heavy rain and floods hit Islamabad

Tariq Butt, Correspondent

A mother and her son were killed in Islamabad on Wednesday as several areas of the federal capital experienced urban flooding after a cloudburst caused heavy rainfall.

Police officials confirmed the casualties at a house in sector E11/2, saying that flood water entered their house's basement.

Flood water swept away cars in the E-11 sector.

The Islamabad Deputy Commissioner attributed the flash flood to a cloudburst and urged the public to "cooperate and restrict unnecessary movements.”

He said the spillways of Rawal Dam were being opened as he appealed to the public to stay away from the riverbanks of Korang and Soan rivers.

Additionally, Section 144  was imposed on bathing in rivers, the deputy commissoner said, adding that rescue and management teams were present to handle the situation.

The officials said flooding in sector E-11 was due to "poor management" of private housing schemes, adding that there was no equipment available to deal with the situation.

The army and other local authorities were present in the federal capital to deal with the situation, said Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid.

"The army is alert; Wasa (Water and Sanitation Agency) is alert; and the whole administration is on duty," he said.

Usman Buzdar, Punjab Chief Minister, issued an alert due to the threat of flooding in adjoining city Rawalpindi's Leh Nullah, and asked Rescue 1122 to "put in place all the arrangements to deal with any emergency-like situation.”