Father and daughter still missing 24 hours after Islamabad flood swept away car

More than 24 hours have passed, but there is still no trace of a father and daughter who went missing after their car was swept away by floodwaters in Islamabad’s DHA area.

Rescue efforts continued late into the night, with excavation work along the drain that flows into the Soan River going on until 3 am on the night of Tuesday and Wednesday. However, the operation was temporarily halted due to rising water levels caused by continuous rainfall.

According to Rescue 1122 officials, the search resumed early Wednesday morning, extending from Soan Bridge down to GT Road.

Rescue teams have also been deployed further along the Soan River, reaching up to the Gorakhpur area, as the search for the missing victims continues.

Read: Northern areas rocked by deadly flooding, cloudburst leaves 4 dead, 15 missing

Heavy monsoon rains lashed Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Tuesday, causing widespread waterlogging and severe flooding in rivers and canals across both cities.

Islamabad Police reported that a retired colonel and his daughter were swept away in their car within the private housing society, DHA. 

Floodwaters engulfed their grey sedan, pushing it rapidly towards the surging currents. 

Onlookers captured the harrowing scene on video as a hand desperately gestured for help from a car window. Reaching them in that moment was an impossible feat.

Search operations are underway on various sides of the Swan River to find the vehicle.