Hailstorm in Islamabad Exposes Climate Vulnerability

Islamabad, April 16 — The skies cracked open over the federal capital and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Wednesday, unleashing a 35-minute-long hailstorm in Islamabad that shattered windscreens, bent solar carports, uprooted trees, and left the city’s drainage and power systems gasping for breath. The storm, sudden and ferocious, turned serene parks into scenes of chaos and triggered flash floods in low-lying sectors — a vivid reminder of climate volatility knocking louder on Pakistan’s doorstep.

“Hail was coming down like pellets,” said Pakistan Peoples Party Senator and former climate change minister Sherry Rehman, describing the tempest on X. “This is extreme weather volatility driven by climate change… not a random natural event.”

INSANE hailstorm In Islamabad in April. Coming down like pellets from the sky.
This is extreme weather volatility driven by #climatechange, where anomalies proliferate. Not a random natural event. And related entirely to human actions like emissions, which are growing because of… pic.twitter.com/PLj4PJIKbv
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) April 16, 2025

According to the local reports, the hardest-hit neighborhood was Tarnol, where several trees were uprooted, blocking traffic arteries and damaging property. Flash floods overwhelmed the already stressed drainage system across multiple sectors of Islamabad, catching drivers and pedestrians off guard. Children playing outdoors ran for cover, some visibly frightened, as reported by Dawn News.

The deputy commissioner’s office confirmed that teams from the district administration were deployed for drainage work and traffic regulation, saying, “The damage caused by hail is being estimated. There are reports of broken windows of vehicles and houses in various areas.”

Capital-Crunch: Solar Wreckage and Urban Fragility

Among the worst-hit were solar panels mounted on rooftops — their panels shattered, steel frames bent under the assault of golf-ball-sized hailstones. As Islamabad eyes a green transition, this incident has spotlighted a critical weakness: climate-resilient infrastructure. With rising investments in renewable energy, experts warn that solar grids, if not weatherproofed, may be sitting ducks in an era of meteorological chaos.

KP Hit by Wind and Hail — And Chilas Faces Flash Flood Tragedy

Several areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) — including Swabi, Nowshera, Peshawar, Charsadda, and Mardan — were struck by damaging winds and hailstorms, with reports of property damage, fallen trees, and disrupted power. Unlike the capital, where the storm was short but explosive, KP’s experience was more widespread, though still severe in pockets.

Meanwhile, in Chilas (Diamer district), a tragic flash flood swept away two children. Diamer police spokesperson Raja Ashfaq confirmed that one child died en route to the hospital, while the other was airlifted to Islamabad for emergency treatment.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), in a statement issued Wednesday evening, said it was actively monitoring the situation across the province. Director General Asfandyar Khattak confirmed the PDMA was fully prepared to manage developing flood conditions.

“The Emergency Response Centre at the PDMA’s central office is operational 24/7,” said Khattak, urging citizens to report incidents or emergencies by calling the toll-free helpline 1700.

Extreme Weather Events on the Rise

This isn’t Islamabad’s first rodeo with freakish weather. A similar hailstorm struck the capital last April, although with lesser intensity. But Wednesday’s storm, compounded by power outages in multiple sectors including E-11, F-6, F-8, G-8, and I-9, raises questions about urban readiness in the face of an escalating climate emergency.

While hailstorms are not unprecedented in Islamabad, such severe events are rare. A notable instance occurred in April 2008, when a similar storm blanketed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in white, and a few cars were damaged. But this week’s event—with a trail of shattered solar panels, damaged property, crushed cars, and interrupted Pakistan Super League (PSL) match preparations in Rawalpindi—feels like a crescendo.

Children playing in Islamabad’s parks were seen running for cover. Commuters were caught off guard. And green energy infrastructure took a visible hit. The vulnerability of solar panels underlines a larger issue: climate resilience in the era of sustainable cities is still a work-in-progress.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had already flagged incoming rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds for Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and northern regions, with more expected from April 18 to 20.

NDMA & PDMA Respond

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also stated: “Intensifying heatwaves could trigger wildfires in KP’s mountainous regions, Balochistan, Potohar, and Murree.” Their April–June forecast paints a grim picture — cyclones in the Arabian Sea, below-normal rainfall, and temperatures soaring above 45°C in cities like Karachi, Larkana, Umerkot, and Tharparkar.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), under the direction of Relief Minister Haji Nek Muhammad Dawar, mobilized district officers and activated its emergency center. DG Asfandyar Khattak confirmed constant coordination with local officials, urging the public to report emergencies at the toll-free number 1700.

From Islamabad to Inner Mongolia: Climate in Crisis

It’s not just Pakistan facing the wrath of weather gone wild. On April 11, China issued an unusual and viral alert: people weighing under 50 kilograms (around 110 pounds) were urged to stay indoors due to extreme winds in northern regions like Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. Gales of up to 93 miles per hour, propelled by a cold vortex from Mongolia, prompted authorities to cancel over 150 train services, suspend dozens of flights, and shut down parks, schools, and construction sites.

The Beijing meteorological service issued its first orange alert in a decade, the second-highest in China’s warning system, affecting over 22 million people. Officials feared that the typhoon-strength winds, rated at levels 11 to 13 on China’s 17-level wind scale, could blow away lighter individuals. The internet ran with it: Weibo hashtags trended, and memes flew almost as fast as the wind. But jokes aside, this was serious business — with meteorologists calling it “highly disastrous”, reinforcing trees, halting sporting events, and shutting down the city’s outdoor life.

It’s the same story, a different scene. Whether it’s hailstorms hammering solar panels in Islamabad or whirlwinds in Beijing threatening to whisk people away, the message is clear: weather isn’t just changing — it’s accelerating.

Cricket Takes a Hit, But Not a Blowout

Back in the capital, the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match between Islamabad United and Multan Sultans was scheduled, also took a drizzle-hit. However, Crickwick’s Abu Bakr Tarrar clarified to Dawn.com: “There was no hailstorm at the stadium… just rain, and the outfield was wet.” The sun eventually peeked out — a poetic anticlimax to a stormy episode.

Final Thought

A freak hailstorm in April. Children running from ice from the sky. Shattered green infrastructure. A capital city scrambling. And the mercury is already plotting its summer vengeance.

We’re not just chasing weather anymore. We’re living it. From Islamabad’s icy wrath to Beijing’s airborne humans, this isn’t random chaos — it’s the new climate order. And the question South Asia (and beyond) must now confront is no longer “when will it strike again?” — it’s “how prepared are we when it does?”

Disclaimer: This news report is compiled by the SAT News Desk with inputs from the Dawn News, with statements cited from Sherry Rehman, DG PDMA Asfandyar Khattak, Diamer Police, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Office, and Chinese Meteorological Authorities via international wire reports.