Troops of the Pakistan Armed Forces were called in after the water levels in the Nullah Leh – a rainwater-fed natural stream flowing through the city of Rawalpindi – rose to the alarming level of 19 feet due to the torrential downpours which lashed the twin cities on Tuesday night.
The heavy showers left at least 12 people dead and several others injured in rain-related incidents in the federal capital as well as the adjacent garrison city.
Sirens were sounded to evacuate a large number of inhabitants from the low-lying areas adjacent to Nullah Leh while instructions were also given to the citizens to immediately secure their lives and properties.
15 injured in accident
As many as 15 passengers were injured as four buses and two cars barrelled into each other on the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway due to low visibility during heavy rain. Rescue sources said four buses and two vehicles travelling from Islamabad to Peshawar collided near Burma Interchange, leaving 15 commuters, including women and children, injured.
As soon as the accident was reported, the National Highways and Motorway Police stopped the traffic and rescue operations were started. First aid was provided to those injured in the accident on the spot while the seriously injured travellers were shifted to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Taxila and Wah Cantt hospitals.
Rain disrupts life
Meanwhile, life came to a standstill due to the inflow of rainwater in the low-lying areas. Due to the flood waters entering the streets, neighbourhoods, houses and shops in the residential areas, the valuable goods of the citizens worth millions of rupees were destroyed.
Sources said the continuous rain until Wednesday morning made the water levels in Nullah Leh swell to 19 feet at Katarian and 18 feet at Gawalmandi.
As the water levels rose by 10 to 15 feet, troops of the Pakistan Army’s Triple One Brigade arrived at the low-lying areas with boats and other necessary equipment to carry out the rescue work alongside the local administration.
(Clockwise) Vehicles of the district administration aparked on the Gawalmandi Bridge crossing over Nullah Leh; a worker chops down the branches of a fallen tree on Nizamuddin Road in the federal capital; and a motorcyclist wades through rainwa-ter on a flooded road in the garrison city. PHOTOS: AGHA MEHROZ/AGENCIES
Emergency declared
Monitoring the flood situation at Pirwadhai, Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaquat Ali Chatha, informed the media that due to the heavy downpour in the twin cities, the water levels had risen in the Nullah Leh.
Dewatering tanks of the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) and other organisations reached all the low-lying areas while five emergency rooms were set up along with a control room to tackle the flood situation, he explained.
Chatha added that an emergency was declared in all the hospitals and the institutions involved in trying to control the emergency.
IESCO’s 40 feeders trip
The spokesperson of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) announced that tripping cases on over 40 feeders were reported due to continuous and intermittent rains in its various operation circles.
The affected feeders included Lohi Bhair, F 7/1, Upper Topa, Gulberg 5, Service Road, Radio Park, Jand City, Fateh Jang, A Block, Dhok Hassu, Ghraib Wall, Lalazar, Morgah and others.
Rescuers on alert
Punjab Emergency Service (PES), Rescue-1122, which is fully equipped to cope with the possible flood in Nullah Leh and other nullahs of the town, was put on high alert to cope with emergencies.
According to a spokesperson, in the wake of the heavy rainfall, special arrangements were made to ensure the safety of the citizens.
The rescuers deployed in low-lying areas, particularly in Katarian, Gawalmandi, Sowan and other areas, were put on high alert to provide timely emergency response, medical treatment and transportation facilities to possible flood victims.
Rainwater drainage ordered
Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi Wednesday directed the authorities concerned with the district administration to utilise all available resources and immediately complete the rainwater drainage operation.
The chief minister issued special instructions to Rescue-1122 and PDMA to ensure immediate drainage of water in low-lying areas of Rawalpindi.
According to the PMD, a total of 195mm of rain was recorded in the twin cities while the highest rainfall was recorded at 195mm in Shamsabad and 145mm in Bokra.
WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM SALEH MUGHAL AND APP
Published in The Express Tribune, July 20th, 2023.
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