Pindi faces threat of urban flooding

Rescue services, district administration put on high alert

RAWALPINDI: With the monsoon season about to commence, the district administration, metropolitan authorities and security forces have been put on high-alert for possible urban flooding in Rawalpindi.

The rainy season in South Asia traditionally starts in the middle of July. However, owing to the climate change phenomenon, the region also receives heavy pre-monsoon rainfall.

The meteorological department has already issued a warning of a higher than usual pre-monsoon showers, which formally commenced on June 15. As a result, all civil administration and military institutions including the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), Rescue 1122, Civil Defence Department, Rawalpindi Cantonment Board, Chaklala Cantonment Board and the army, have been placed on high alert for possible flooding in areas situated along Nullah Leh and the Soan River.

A flood warning system has also been activated in the city to effectively deal with any flooding, a district administration official said.

Provinces asked to get ready for monsoon

Moreover, a flood control room has been set up in the office of the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) to monitor flood torrents in Nullah Leh with the help of satellite images. This will be augmented by manual monitoring of water levels in the massive storm drain.

Officials said large searchlights will be installed in low lying areas along Nullah Leh, while people living on the banks will be instructed to remain ready to evacuate.

Officials said that eight flood relief centres will be set up near residential areas of Gawalmandi, Arya Mohalla and Javed Colony.

Flood relief centres will also be set up in vacant government schools and colleges where arrangements will be made to house the evacuated flood victims, officials said.

The army has assured of providing all possible assistance in rescuing flood victims, officials said, adding that Rescue 1122 water rescue teams will shift their boats to the low-lying areas to deal with any emerging situation.

Rawalpindi Commissioner Muhamamd Mahmood and Deputy Commissioner Anwarul Haq have already issued orders to clean all drains to prevent heavy rains. Drainage of rainwater can be done without any interruption and safety of life and property of citizens can be ensured, the directions said.

Half of Nullah Leh cleaned

Around 50 per cent of the de-silting and dredging work on Nullah Leh has been completed, officials said on Tuesday.

Pakistan to witness fresh spell of monsoon rains

WASA had awarded a contract for desilting the nullah, worth Rs30 million, for cleaning, dredging and deepening the bed of the nullah. The contractor is expected to complete the task by June 30.

The cleaning of Nullah Leh will help protect the densely populated centres on its banks including those near the bridges of Ganj Mandi, Gawalmandi, Nuktariyan and Rata Amral.

The WASA MD Raja Shaukat Mahmood said that the ongoing cleaning work is being monitored daily.

After the removal of debris, there will be no obstruction in the flow of water in Nullah Leh and the flooding during monsoon would not reach dangerous levels.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2020.