Heavy rain exposes poor sewerage system of Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi
Heavy rain, which began on Sunday night and continued intermittently till the filing of this report on Monday created problems for the residents of low-lying localities of the city as all 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 on all roads particularly Benazir Bhutto Road due to incomplete construction of Metro Bus Service Project, which was completely stopped due to heavy showers. Benazir Bhutto Road was like a pond or river at some portions where workers dig out areas. Metro Bus Project (MBP) Site Engineer Atif Latif told ‘The News’ heavy showers in the month of February and March strongly affected the construction work in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. “We are trying to continue construction work even in rain, but rain is not allowing us to continue work,” he claimed.
The rain and heavy snowfall 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.
According to Pakistan Metrological Department, current rain spell would continue on Tuesday as well. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Director Dr. Muhammad Hanif said that current rain spell would end on Tuesday night. But, the temperature would remain low due to cold waves coming from hilly areas like Murree and Nathiagali because of heavy snowfall in these areas. “The residents of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad would face cold weather for next 36 to 48 hours,” he warned.
The rains for a couple of days also inconvenienced the roads users, especially pedestrians, by inundating streets in the low lying areas. Most of the roads and streets have been dug for laying waterlines, sewers or other utility services with mud dumped along side.
Traffic came to a halt for several hours in many areas as a number of vehicles broke down. Even at Jhelum Road, Mall Road, Adiala Road, Jamia Masjid Road near Qadeemi Imambargah, Airport Road, City Saddar Road near Gawalmandi and Benazir Bhutto Road areas several public transport vehicles developed faults in the middle of the road causing heavy traffic jams. The rains also caused problems for people on two wheelers and those who were waiting for public transport at the bus stands in the garrison city as well as in Islamabad and adjoining areas.
Similarly, cart pushers, vendors and labourers remained without work for a couple of days due to rain. The residents of low-lying areas, particularly Jan Colony, Hazara Colony, Nadeem Colony, Imambara Mohallah, Arya Mohallah, Dhoke Khabba and Raheemabad faced worst kind of difficulties on Monday as the rainwater entered some houses. All kinds of traffic remained suspended on the Sihala Road due to heavy rain. Heavy rain also affected routine traffic at Airport Road, Dhamial Road, Adiala Road, Peshawar Road, Chakri Road, Lalkurti Road, Tulsa Road and Golra Road. Similarly, traffic jams were also witnessed on other roads during the rain.
According to Civil Aviation Authority, national and international flight schedule was also affected due to heavy rain.
Talking to ‘The News’ residents of city said that concerned authority should complete construction work of metro bus project soon. They said that they faced hell like situation particularly at Benazir Bhutto Road during rain.