Three more swept away in rain

Due to heavy rains, eight flights could not take off from Islamabad International Airport

RAWALPINDI: Incidents of people washing away in torrents of nullahs could not stop as three more people drowned during heavy rains on Saturday.

The Leh Nullah, Korrang Nullah and Soan River were in raging fury after spillways of Rawal Dam were opened. The Rawal Lake was full to capacity due to which opening of spillways was necessary.

Almost 29mm rainfall in just one hour added to the water level of nullahs crisscrossing the twin cities.

Two cousins, Nasir and Shiraz Kalim drowned while swimming and fishing in a local dam at Sarwar Shaheed Sangori in Gujar Khan area.

Heavy rains kill 39 across Pakistan

Rescue 1122 recovered their bodies. Shiraz Kalim, a resident of Kaler Syedan, had come to his grandfather’s house to celebrate Eid.

Another youth was swept away by current of nullah in Fauji Colony, rescue officials said. Rescue 1122 was still searching for his body.

Due to heavy rains, traffic flow was also severely affected. Moreover, eight flights could not take off from Islamabad International Airport.

Airlines’ administrations said that the passengers affected by the cancellation of the flights will be adjusted on other flights. WASA has already implemented a rain emergency in the district, Wasa MD Mohammad Tanveer continued to monitor the evacuation staff from various areas, including various places on Murree Road.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2019.