Intense hailstorm smashes windows, damages vehicles in Pakistan's capital
ISLAMABAD: An intense hailstorm and heavy rainfall battered Pakistan's capital Islamabad and its surrounding areas on Wednesday evening, leaving several vehicles damaged and house windows smashed.
Footage on social media showed hailstones raining from the sky in Islamabad during Wednesday evening. Several Islamabad residents posted videos of their car windscreens smashed while others shared images of the windows of their houses damaged by hails.
Islamabad district administration said in a statement that its emergency teams were deployed to manage traffic and drain rainwater accumulated on the streets.
'The extent of the damage caused by the hailstorm is still being assessed,' Islamabad administration spokesperson said in a statement. 'There are reports of broken windows of vehicles and houses in various areas.'
He added that rescue teams were immediately dispatched to key highways, while drainage work was already underway in several parts of the city to prevent water from accumulating on the roads.
An Islamabad resident told Arab News his car had been significantly damaged by the hailstorm.
'It would cost me around $178 (Rs50,000) to repair the windscreen, windows and side mirrors,' Ahmed Qureshi, a resident of the city's Diplomatic Enclave, told Arab News. 'My vehicle will also need to be repainted to fix the dents caused by the hailstorm.'
Several mechanic shops in Islamabad's G-6 Markaz area were swamped with concerned citizens inquiring about the cost of new windshields.
Muhammad Ali, a mechanic, told Arab News three types of windshields were available for Toyota and Honda cars. These cost from $57-$135 (Rs16,000 to Rs38,000), adding that it takes about 20 minutes to install one.
'The windshield supplier isn't answering his phone due to the overwhelming number of calls he has received,' he said.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast rain with thunderstorm in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock and other parts of the parts of Punjab on Wednesday evening.
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