Rains bring cold back to twin cities

Water stands on multiple thoroughfares causing traffic snarl-up, polio campaign postponed

RAWALPINDI: Heavy rains lashed the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Monday, causing the mercury to fall further apart from affecting daily life. At least eight people were injured after their vehicles skidded off the road.

In some low-lying parts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, streets were inundated with water causing distress to residents.

According to the Pakistan Metrological Department, around six millimetres of rain was recorded at Saidpur in Islamabad, four millimetres in Bokra, three millimetres in Golra, two at IIA. In Rawalpindi, five millimetres of rain was recorded at Chaklala, Shamsabad, Jhang, and Khanpur.

Rainwater submerged various roads and thoroughfares, especially in the cantonment area of Rawalpindi including Murree Road, Peshawar Road, Committee Chowk underpass, Jamia Masjid Road, Bani Kartar Pura, Misaryaal Road and Dhok Ilahi Baksh.

As a result, a massive traffic snarl-up was seen in the city.

Rainwater also flooded some homes and shops in the older areas of the city including in commercial market and cantonment areas including Peoples Colony, Dhok Sayedaan due to poor sewerage and drainage system.



Teams of Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) were found draining water out from roads using suction pumps while citizens in residential areas also drained water from their homes on their own.

In Chakwal, at least eight people were injured in different incidents of motorbikes slipping due to rain in the district.

According to Rescue 1122, 32-year-old Muhammad Ashraf sustained severe injuries when his motorbike slipped on Rawalpindi Road near Dadyal. Danish Ali was also injured after his motorbike skidded near the Tehnil Fatohi village. In another incident, two motorbikes collided with each another due to heavy rain. As a result, four bike riders and two passersby were severely injured.

Polio drive postponed

The year’s first anti-polio drive, which was supposed to commence on Monday, was suspended in the Rawalpindi district owing to the heavy rains.

However, only door-to-door part of the campaign was suspended, with volunteers and health workers continuing to operate at the 287 fixed and 119 transit points in the district. But, they had little to do with few parents taking their children out in the rain.

Health ministry sources said that the campaign could be delayed owing to forecast for further rain on Tuesday, adding that in that event, a new schedule for the campaign could be announced as soon as the weather clears

With environmental samples from Rawalpindi continuously testing positive for the poliovirus, the current campaign was to be assessed by teams from the World Health Organization (WHO) through a quality assessment survey. The teams would further identify such children who were not vaccinated to make future campaigns successful, the official said.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Dr Umar Jahangir has directed the assistant commissioners of seven tehsils to file first investigation reports (FIR) against those parents who were constantly refusing to vaccinate their children.

Anti-Polio drive In-charge Chaudhry Muhammad Hussain said that they aim to vaccinate 848,250 children under five-years-of-age with 2,787 polio teams, including 2,333 mobile teams. Some 221 Union Council medical officers and 496 area in-charges are participating in the drive

He said that staff deployed for the campaign have been instructed that no negligence will be tolerated.      Hussain advised parents to come forward and play their role in ensuring vaccination of their children to eradicate the disease.

The health department has also sought the services of religious scholars, renowned political and social personalities along with the local representatives to make the campaign successful.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2019.