RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD – A week-long search ended in tragedy on Thursday as rescue teams recovered the body of Colonel (Retd) Qazi Ishaq, whose car was swept away by floodwaters in Islamabad following torrential rains.
His young daughter remains missing, with search operations still ongoing.
The incident happened near a seasonal nullah connecting Sector 4 and Phase 7 of a private housing society, where the family car was caught in a sudden flash flood. Eyewitnesses saw the two waving for help, but no immediate rescue was possible due to the ferocity of the water flow.
Rescue Teams Recover Key Clues
A massive rescue operation, involving the Pakistan Army, Rescue 1122, and PDMA, scoured the area for days without success.
On Thursday, teams finally located parts of the vehicle—a door and bonnet—near the Soan River bridge, pointing to the site where the car likely sank. Further excavation led to the recovery of the colonel’s body.
Authorities confirmed that the search for his daughter is still ongoing, with divers and heavy machinery deployed in nearby river channels and drainage points.
More Rains Expected
Adding to the challenge, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued fresh rain and flood warnings, predicting heavy rainfall in KP, GB, Pothohar, and northeast Punjab in the next 12 hours.
These conditions may trigger urban flooding, landslides, and travel disruptions in northern Pakistan. Meanwhile, the southern parts of the country remain hot and humid.
Current temperatures: Islamabad 25°C, Lahore 28°C, Karachi 30°C, Peshawar 27°C, Quetta 26°C, Gilgit 26°C, Murree 15°C, Muzaffarabad 24°C.
Authorities have urged residents to avoid traveling near nullahs, rivers, and flood-prone areas during the ongoing monsoon spell.