Rain alert issued for Nullah Leh

Heavy downpour inundates low-lying areas in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI:

The Pakistan Meteorological Department on Tuesday issued an alert for Nullah Leh asking the departments concerned to remain watchful during the next 12 to 18 hours.

Various low-lying areas of Rawalpindi were submerged as heavy rain on Tuesday raised the water level in Nullah Leh.

Various areas on Murree Road, Commerical Market, Liaquat Road, Jamia Masjid Road, Sadiqabad, Commercial Market, Chamanzaar, Tipu Road, Nadeem Colony, Dhok Dalal were submerged after the heavy rain. Water also entered homes in some localities.

Rainwater accumulated in low-lying areas, squares and intersections in Rawalpindi, completely paralysing the existing drainage system in the city and Cantonment.

The teams of the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) pumped out the accumulated water from the affected areas. According to the Met Office, a total of 50 millimetres of rain was recorded in Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Tuesday.

The Met Office issuing the alert said that presently rain-bearing weather system was causing rain with moderate intensity over the catchment areas of Nullah Leh. It said that it was likely to intensify further causing heavy showers during the next 12 to 18 hours.

The Met Office said that heavy rains could cause the water level to rise significantly in Nullah Leh. The Met Office has advised all agencies concerned to remain alert during the forecast period and took necessary precautionary measures accordingly.

The water level at Gawalmandi had reached near pre-alert level. The water level was recorded at 8 feet at Gawalmandi and 9 feet at Kattarian at 5 pm. Pre-alert is issued when the water level reaches 8.3 feet at Gawalmandi.

The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Rawalpindi has deployed teams in different areas particularly in low-lying areas to clear rainwater. Meanwhile, the Rescue 1122, which is fully equipped to cope with possible flooding in Nullah Leh, has been put on high alert to cope with emergencies.

According to a Rescue 1122 spokesman, rescuers deployed in low-lying areas, particularly in Katarian, Gawalmandi, Sowan and other low-lying areas would remain on high alert round the clock to provide timely emergency response, medical treatment and transportation facilities to flood victims.

Rescue 1122 has asked people not to stand on the banks in low-lying areas along Nullah Leh during flooding. The Rawalpindi district government has also completed arrangements to cope with possible flooding. According to a district administration spokesman, the WASA and the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation were working to clear rainwater from low-lying areas.

The spokesman said that the dredging of Nullah Leh would be completed at the earliest as the Punjab government has released Rs30 million. He said that obstacles in the flow of water under and around bridges were being removed. The silt and solid waste dumps in Nullah Leh were also being lifted utilising heavy machinery, he added.

The spokesman said that the cleaning work of Nulla Leh would be completed before the start of the monsoon. He further said that WASA Rawalpindi had finalised the monsoon 2022 plan, which includes cleaning of sewerage lines, annual cleaning of Nullah Leh as well as inspection of WASA machinery.

With additional input APP

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2022.