Fear and panic grip residents of low-lying areas

HEAVY RAIN SPELL

Rawalpindi

Fear and panic griped residents of low-lying areas along ‘Nullah Leh’ as heavy rain, which started on Tuesday night, remained continued till Wednesday afternoon intermittently.

The rainwater inundated all most all streets and roads due to poor drainage system in low-lying localities creating lots of problems for the residents. According to Meteorological Department, Rawalpindi received 74 mm rain, Islamabad 59 mm, Sialkot 120 mm, Gujrat 158 mm and Gujranwala 196 mm rain till on Wednesday evening.

Pakistan Metrological Department Director Dr Muhammad Hanif said that current rain spell would continue till Thursday night. But, the temperature would remain low due to cold waves coming from hilly areas like Murree and Nathiagali, he said. He has warned the residents of Rawalpindi to remain alert as another spell of heavy rain is expected within next 24-hours.

Bumper to bumper traffic jam could be seen in major roads particularly here at Benazir Bhutto Road, Airport Road, Mall Road, Jhelum Road, Peshawar Road, Adiala Road and Murree Expressway Road because of heavy rainfall and accumulation of rainwater on roads.

Majority of areas here in city and cantonment faced power outages of long hours as several power feeders tripped to disrupt electricity supply during rainfall. According to Civil Aviation Authority, national and international flight schedule was also affected due to heavy rain on Wednesday.

The District Coordination Officer (DCO), Rawalpindi Talat Mehmood Gondal who was visiting Nullah Leh during rainfall said that we are fully equipped to face flood like situation. “I am continuously monitoring water level here at Nullah Leh and ordered staff to shift residents of ‘Katchi Abadis’ to some safer places,” he said.

Talking to ‘The News’ residents of city particularly settled around Nullah Leh and low-lying areas said that we are in state of fear and panic due to last night continuous rain.

Sheeraz Ahmed, a resident of Arya Muhallah, said that rainwater entered his houses due to poor sewerage system in city. “We remain in fear and panic in monsoon season every year as rainwater enters our houses,” he said.

Traders of Narankari Bazaar, Bohar Bazaar and Moti Bazaar were also seen draining out the rainwater from their shops. The rainwater also damaged a number of shops. “We have already been suffering due to the slump in business these days and the rain has added to our problems,” they said.