Virtual hazards abound in city

Rawalpindi : Virtual deathtraps in the form of open manholes, naked dangling electric wires, and poor lighting in the streets causing serious accidents have claimed several lives in and around the city over the years.

Piecemeal measures have been taken in some cases, while others have been ignored altogether. The problem is ubiquitous; the posh northern sectors have as many live wires as the southern ones. Open manholes are a common sight, both in and around Rawalpindi.

Trees on some roads that provide comfort and shade on hot summer days also pose serious danger for night traffic by covering streetlights.

The city that has come to epitomise modernity seems to consider human life cheap. A drive along the city roads and streets or even the areas like Dhok Hafiz, New Lalhial, Shah Khalid Colony, Taj Abad, Fazal Town, Faisal Colony, Gulzar-e-Quaid, Judicial Colony, and Airport Housing Society show numerous threatening live wires. The posh northern sectors are no better than the southern sectors.

Regarding open manholes, the story is somewhat different. A survey shows that southern sectors have more open manholes compared to the northern sectors. The southern sectors have a high population density and vehicular traffic, making the danger even greater.

The News International photographer once clicked the accompanying picture of the open manhole near the Jamia Masjid Road. Similarly, open manholes were noticed opposite the market in Banni Chowk, besides a house in a street over there and at many turnings on the roads. Those on the roads sometimes prove fatal for two-wheeler drivers unable to negotiate turns.

Poor lighting has turned the city streets into a driver’s nightmare. Serious accidents have resulted from drivers hitting obstacles, at times causing deaths. The entire service road running along old airport road up to Gulzar-e-Quaid has no streetlights. The road from the Rawal Chowk up to Sultanpura roundabout has street bulbs that are never lit.

Officials do swing into action following accidents, but no concrete steps have ever been taken to deal with the problems on a long-term basis and prevent loss of human life. Many have been electrocuted; motorists have suffered accidents owing to open manholes or were killed due to poor visibility.

The administration has conducted surveys of problem-infested areas and prepared reports from time to time, but not done much to deal with the situation on a long-term basis. These problems are even more acute in colonies on the periphery.

City residents remember the incidents that have taken place on Rawal Road. Yesterday I had a surprise of my life last night when an open manhole in front of Rajal Fabrics located near Moti Mehl at the beginning of the footpath by Nullah Leh leading up to the Daily Jang building made me nervous. I had a providential escape.