Heavy rain submerges, devastates Chakwal

Residents relocate to safer areas amid heavy losses

CHAKWAL:

Chakwal city has been hit hard by heavy downpours, resulting in extensive flooding and loss of livestock and property worth hundreds of millions of rupees.

According to locals, Mohalla Bhattian, Islampura, Tatral, Samanabad, and other parts of the city have been severely affected by the heavy rains.

Faced with the rising waters, residents were forced to seek refuge on their rooftops to ensure safety. The floodwaters also reportedly washed away the dowry belongings of a widow's daughter.

During the rescue operation, Rescue 1122 teams managed to save four children who had been swept away by the floodwater.

Despite the gravity of the situation, no public representatives, including the deputy commissioner, visited the affected areas. The lack of prompt action from the administration has left hundreds of people homeless and in urgent need of assistance. Even the residence of a former provincial minister was flooded.

In Mohalla Bhattian alone, dozens of houses were submerged, resulting in millions of rupees worth of losses.

The affected residents urged the Punjab government and other authorities for compensation and financial aid to help them recover from their losses.

The areas of rural Samanabad faced additional challenges as heavy rains caused prolonged power outages. The local population has been grappling with a shortage of water, and some families have had to temporarily relocate to areas with better conditions. The extreme weather and fear of outbreaks – including of waterborne diseases – has made the situation worse for the affected communities.

A Wapda official acknowledged the problems caused by the ‘locally manufactured’ transformers that were defective and assured the public that replacements were on the way. He pledged that every effort would be made to restore electricity in the affected areas.

The recent monsoon rains have also taken a toll on inter-district and regional highways. Landslides on the Lilla Road in the Vanhar region resulted in its closure for large vehicles.

Similarly, the mini motorway connecting Lilla Motorway M2 via Buchhal Kalan has been hit by a landslide, leaving numerous vehicles and passengers stranded.

The heavy rains have not only exposed the inadequacy of the administration's response but have also shed light on the poor performance of contractors responsible for constructing highways.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2023.