Downpour lays bare govt inefficiency
A view of a street in Karachi's Model Colony area during moderate to heavy rainfall on May 1, 2023. SCREENGRAB
Heavy downpour in the city for the second consecutive day Monday laid bare the inefficiency of the government institutions as the drains overflowed, roads, streets, and markets were flooded, while University Road, Circular Road, Jail Road and many other important areas turned into ponds.
From officers to schoolchildren, everyone was stuck in low-lying areas and could not reach their destinations.
Gridlocks in different areas turned a journey of a couple of minutes into hours.
The Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project which includes shops built in various underpasses also saw accumulation of rainwater while a video of a leaking roof of a BRT bus went viral on social media.
Standing rainwater speaks volumes about the provincial government’s performance.
Pedestrians found walking difficult as several feet of water had accumulated on both sides of the roads.
After the rain stopped, all government institutions, including the Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP), unclogged the drains.
Read: Four drown amid heavy downpour in Pindi
The citizens criticised the functioning of the WSSP, including the Peshawar Development Authority, for not fulfilling their duties on time.
They were of the view that if the sewerage lines were cleaned, this situation of the city would not happen during rainy days.
Travellers rescued
Meanwhile, at least 148 travellers were rescued in the wake of intense snowfall in Upper Dir and Swat Valley, said security officials on Monday.
Key roads and the Lowari Tunnel have been closed due to heavy snow accumulation.
Local authorities and the Pakistani Army have swiftly initiated emergency measures to clear critical roadways and the Lowari Tunnel.
In a rapid response, district administration and the military safely transported 148 stranded travellers to designated secure locations.
Heavy machinery is being deployed to clear snow from all roads, ensuring accessibility across the affected areas.
The Pakistan Army is actively engaged in rescuing a large number of travellers trapped in the Lowari Tunnel, ensuring their safe evacuation.
Due to severe snowfall, traffic towards Chitral has been halted as a precautionary measure by local authorities.
District administration and the Pakistan Army are providing essential supplies such as food and blankets to stranded travellers, offering support amidst challenging weather conditions.
Chief Meteorologist at Pakistan Meteorological Department Dr Sardar Sarfaraz on Monday said that a fresh spell of rain, hailstorms and snow is expected across the country from Feb 25 where Karachi city and Balochistan province will also witness light showers along with thunderstorms.
Talking to a Private news channel, he said that good rains, besides snowfall in the northern areas, are expected in the country from the next week under the influence of westerly waves.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th 2024.