Rain adds to coldness in twin cities

Few tourists visit Murree despite heavy snowfall

RAWALPINDI:

The intermittent rain in Rawalpindi and Islamabad has added to the coldness in the twin cities.

Despite heavy snowfall and the weekend, a few tourists visited Murree. The administration and city traffic police remained on high alert and continued monitoring of tourists entering and leaving Murree.

RPO Rawalpindi Ashfaq Ahmad Khan himself was present in the field during the rain and briefed the force and instructed them to perform their duties diligently.

The intermittent rain has been continuing for the last two days in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad which increased the coldness.

On the other hand, due to continuous rain, water has also started standing on the roadsides. However, because of continuous rains, WASA and Rawalpindi police and other concerned agencies are on alert.

RPO Rawalpindi Ashfaq Ahmad Khan also remained active and visited different areas during the rains.

RPO Rawalpindi Ashfaq Ahmad Khan inquired about the problems of the staff on duty and instructed them to perform their duties in an efficient and alert manner.

The flow of Nala Lai in Rawalpindi and flood monitoring is also going on in it.

According to the Meteorological Department, the maximum rainfall of 30 mm was recorded in Chaklala and its environs till 2 pm.

Rainfall of 29 mm was recorded at Bokra and its environs, 27 mm at Shamsabad and its environs, 26 mm at Syedpur and its environs and 25 mm at Golra and its environs.

According to the Flood Control Monitoring Cell, the water level at Nalla Lai at Kataria is 5 feet and at Gawalmandi 4 feet, which is completely normal.

To reduce the severity of the cold weather during the rains, large numbers of citizens turned to hotels, soup and hot shops, and refreshment centres for hot drinks and continued to enjoy hot soup, jalebi, tea and coffee. On the other hand, heavy snowfall continued in Murree and Galiyat and City Traffic Police Rawalpindi along with concerned agencies remained on high alert in Murree.

According to Chief Traffic Officer Rawalpindi Wasim Riaz, 760 vehicles entered Murree from 5 am to 2 pm on Sunday while 557 were out.

Murree has a total of 1528 tourist vehicles so far and the situation is being monitored continuously.

Meanwhile, Chief Traffic Officer Rawalpindi Wasim Riaz has asked the tourists visiting Murree to keep their tire chains to deal with slippery roads due to continuous snowfall.

For the safety and convenience of tourists, traffic officials are on duty day and night in three shifts.

Due to the sleepy road, the traffic officials are pushing the vehicles and providing full assistance to the tourists.

Due to security measures, up to 8000 tourist vehicles will be allowed to enter till 5 pm.

The Chief Traffic Officer further said that awareness and safety advisory pamphlets are also being distributed to the tourists at all the entrances.

DSP Traffic Murree Majeed Akhtar is in full touch with the Motorway Police and other departments while traffic personnel have been deployed along with the machinery of the highway to remove snow from the road immediately.

Tourists keep the low air pressure in tires to deal with slippery roads during snowfall. Even in negative temperatures, the young men of the force are working hard to facilitate tourists on the highways. The people are urged to cooperate with them.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2022.