CDA clears all major roads, markets of rainwater, debris

Islamabad : Capital Development Authority (CDA) has cleared all major roads and markets of rainwater and debris after a heavy downpour on Wednesday in the federal capital that caused flooding in various areas of the city.

It was a cloud burst that caused flooding in various localities, now the situation is under control as teams were mobilized to respond to the situation on a war footing, said a senior official of the authority.

He recalled that an unprecedented rainfall had occurred In Islamabad Rawalpindi in 2001, resulting in 620 mm of rain in a span of about 10 hours.

On the contrary, the federal capital received around 350 mm in three hours, he said adding it was a massive cloud burst since 2001 Rawalpindi flooding, but the response by the authorities was quick and water passed.

"It was a challenge, a natural calamity, but we were on roads since 6 am and clearing stuff wherever required," he said. Talking to this agency, he said the federal apex agency had tasked the Engineering Wing to supervise the drainage of water as a result of rain spells.

Similarly, he said various formations of the authority including Roads Directorate (North), Road Directorate (South), Markets and Road Maintenance Directorate and others remained busy in draining water accumulated due to heavy rainfall.

All staff was on high alert as more rains are expected in coming days, while a flood cell has been established with the help of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad and federal capital administration to swiftly respond to any emergency situation, he added.

The federal capital police were also deployed across the city to avoid any untoward situation.

CDA management had removed wild shrubs and trimming of grass especially along with the road drainage system which was affecting the proper drainage of rainwater, he said.

Meanwhile, at least two people, including a minor, were drowned when water entered homes in Islamabad’s Sector E-11, confirmed an official of Islamabad administration. He said the administration rescued three children while one child and the mother died.

The flood situation in Sector E-11 was created due to the poor performance of the management of a housing society, he added. “They do not have the machinery to deal with the flood situation,” he said, adding that Islamabad’s Sector E-11 is not managed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

CDA had managed to clear the accumulated water in sector E-11 without any support from anywhere.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad administration opened Rawal Dam spillways at 1500 hours as the water level in Korang Nullah has dropped in the last two hours and blockages have been cleared by District Administration.