Heavy rain brings life to a standstill

Heavy early morning rains on Wednesday brought Rawalpindi to a standstill, exposing significant shortcomings in the city's sanitation and drainage systems managed by the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and the district administration.

In a tragic turn of events, a 5-year-old girl drowned in a rain drain in Saddar Beruni's Banker Colony.

Low-lying areas were particularly affected, with streets turning into rivers and underpasses filling with up to two feet of water.

Additionally, two houses in Dhok Lalyal and Jaba collapsed, injuring two children. The downpour paralysed the traffic system, halted commercial activities, and delayed train departures. Approximately half of the city experienced power outages, PTCL phones went dead, and roofs of deteriorated buildings began to leak.

Floodwaters infiltrated several neighborhoods, causing significant damage to homes and properties. Areas such as Amarpura, Qasimabad, Dhok Khabba, Dhok Farman Ali, Dhok Elahi Baksh, Nadeem Colony, Javed Colony, Fazalabad, Dhok Hassu, Ziaul Haq Colony Katarian, Jan Colony, Tinch Bhata, Peoples Colony, Shale Valley, and Sharon Colony were among the most affected.

The main commercial zones of Mochi Bazaar and Trunk Bazaar also suffered from extensive flooding.

Despite the chaos, the rain provided a brief respite from the severe heat that had persisted for two days, bringing pleasant weather and prompting birds to chirp happily. The water levels in Rawal, Khanpur, and Sumli dams, which supply water to Islamabad and Rawalpindi, began to rise, alleviating fears of a water crisis in the twin cities.

Concerns remain high among residents living near Nullah Leh and other storm drains, particularly with more rain forecasted by the meteorological department. A rain emergency has been declared, and all relevant institutions have been placed on high alert. The Triple One Brigade team conducted inspections in various areas along Nullah Leh.

Rainfall began at 10am in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, continuing until noon. According to the Meteorological Department, Islamabad received 43mm of rain, while Rawalpindi recorded 29mm.

Senior officials, including the commissioner, deputy commissioner, and WASA MD visited Gawalmandi Bridge to assess the situation. Significant water accumulation was observed on key roads, including Murree Road, Rawal Road, Raja Bazaar, Sadiqabad Chowk, Rahimabad Bridge, Mall Road, Saddar Bazaar, Murree Chowk, Liaquat Bagh Chowk, and Gawalmandi Road. All 500 manholes across the city overflowed due to poor maintenance and garbage.

The extensive flooding and power outages crippled commercial activities and blocked traffic across the city. Malaika Bibi, an eight-year-old student, tragically drowned after slipping into a storm drain in Banker Colony. Despite efforts by police and Rescue 1122, her body was not recovered by evening. Several old buildings and even the metro bus track experienced significant leaks.