PMD scrambles to restore flood alert system

Cutting-edge equipment to be functional by Monday (today)

RAWALPINDI:

Efforts are underway to restore Rawalpindi’s flood alert system affected due to a robbery incident.

Officials have reverted to using a manual gauge to monitor water levels in major drains until the automated system is fully operational by Monday night.

Meanwhile, the police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the theft.

According to official sources, Usman Shahzad, an electronic engineer from the meteorological department, filed a burglary case at Newtown police station.

The FIR states that automatic systems and water level gauges had been installed at various locations to monitor floods in areas including Nullah Leh. These systems compile real-time data on rainfall and water levels in 15 rain drains.

On July 18, around 1pm, the system recorded its last data before unknown thieves stole the fully automatic flood warning system near the Katarian Bridge. The burglars broke the locks and latches of the water level gauge station and stole two expensive batteries, a sensor gauge and pulley, an Arduino board, a GSM board, mobile phone SIMs, a 12-volt solar panel, a steel board, and copper cables.

The FIR emphasises the importance of the Meteorological Department's station for real-time weather and flood monitoring, urging the prompt arrest of the culprits.

CPO Rawalpindi, Khalid Hamdani, confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and assured that the perpetrators will be apprehended soon. He highlighted the significance of the modern flood and rain forecasting system, which was installed about 15 years ago with Japan's cooperation.

Officials from the Meteorological Department have reiterated that the restoration work is in progress. The system is expected to be fully restored by Monday night, but in the meantime, the monitoring of the drain will continue using the manual gauge.