Motorists remain stuck in traffic jam for hours

Rawalpindi Motorists remained stuck in gridlock for hours at Jhelum Road as both sides of Soan Bridge was closed for all kinds of traffic on Thursday due to damage inflicted to oil and gas pipelines during drilling work under the bridge.

A heavy contingent of police was present all around Jhelum Road. The top government officials including commissioner Rawalpindi Division, deputy commissioner and SP Potohar reached on the spot to monitor this situation. The law enforcement officials were not allowing media persons to go to the incident spot.

Talking to ‘The Newsa’ Assistant Commissioner (AC), Rawalpindi Liaquat Ali said that they were not allowing motorists to travel or pedestrians cross the bridge to avoid any bad incident. “We are completely monitoring the incident as how the oil pipeline was burst,” he added.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Potohar Muhammad Ali said that they have strictly banned all kind of movement on both sides of Soan Bridge due to bursting of oil and gas pipelines. “We are trying to avoid any untoward incident,” he added. He appealed to public to cooperate with them on this occasion.

The officials concerned told ‘The News’ that pipelines burst due to drilling work under Soan Bridge. There was a hell like situation here at Jehlum Road due to blockage of traffic. The public particularly ladies were wandering here and there in search of water as they were facing scorching heat. But, drinking water was not available even in nearby shops. Some old people and ladies fell unconscious due to hot weather without drinking water. The government officials were trying to console public to smooth out the situation but in vain.