First heavy rainfall of monsoon results in problems for people

Rawalpindi : First heavy rainfall of monsoon resulted flood-like situation as several roods and streets submerged in some areas of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Wednesday.

The Regional Police Officer (RPO), City Police Officer (CPO) and Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) have advised visitors to stay at homes rather to travel towards Murree during rain. The authority concerned has issued advisory to drive slow as roads are slippery and there was a land sliding on Murree Expressway because of heavy rainfall.

Heavy rain, which began at about 11:15 a.m. and continued intermittently till 1:45p.m. created problems for the residents of low-lying localities of the city as some of the open manholes overflowed inundating streets and roads due to poor drainage system of the city.

On the other hand, pedestrians and motorists faced difficulties, particularly on Jhelum Road, Airport Road, Mall Road, Benazir Bhutto Road, Asghar Mall Road, Sihala Road, Tipu Road, Sadiqabad and Muslim Town Road, Khana Road and Highway.

Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) managing director Raja Shaukat told ‘The News’ that water sucking vehicles were working as per routine. We are trying to remove rainwater from roads and low-lying localities, he claimed.

The heavy rainfall in hilly areas particularly in Murree and Nathiagali turned the weather chilly. Murree Road and Murree Expressway have been closed for traffic by Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) (Rawalpindi) due to land-sliding and traffic jams. Some of trees also fell down on Murree road created difficulties for motorists on Wednesday.

According to Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD), current rain spell would continue till Saturday. PMD Director Dr. Muhammad Hanif said that we have already issued warning advisory to low-lying localities in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad during rain.

The residents of low-lying areas, particularly Jan Colony, Hazara Colony, Nadeem Colony, Imambara Mohallah, Arya Mohallah, Dhoke Khabba and Rahimabad faced worst kind of difficulties as the rainwater entered some houses. The residents of Kartarpura, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed and Katarian also affected due to heavy rainfall on Wednesday.