Ill-equipped Pindi braces for more rains

Despite significant financial losses and tragic loss of five lives due to flooding in low-lying areas of Rawalpindi during the ongoing monsoon rains, the major and minor storm drains, including those feeding into the 15 primary drains in the city, remain clogged.

With more rain expected this week, there is renewed fear that these areas could once again be submerged as Nullah Leh and the sewerage drains overflow. However, in various meetings convened by the commissioner, deputy commissioner, and later the chief secretary, neither WASA nor the cantonment boards have presented a plan to prevent such flooding.

In the past two weeks, torrential rains in Rawalpindi and Islamabad have caused the water level in Nullah Leh to surge from 19.5 feet to 22.5 feet.

This rise has resulted in widespread devastation in low-lying areas of the city and cantonment, where overflowing sewage drains have led to severe financial losses for residents and millions of rupees in damage to business centres.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has expressed concern over the situation. Numerous meetings have been held at the Rawalpindi Commissioner's office, chaired by both the commissioner and deputy commissioner, with video link meetings led by the chief secretary, to assess the situation.

A recent video link meeting focused on the anticipated threat of further urban flooding due to additional rains.

According to sources, no alternative plan has been devised for draining water from low-lying areas through the city's sewage drains. Instead, attention has been directed towards expert recommendations on managing water discharge through the major sewage drains and Leh Nullah.

In the cantonment area, even the large sewage drains remain uncleared, heightening the risk of flooding in low-lying areas such as Jan Colony, Tinch Bhata, Peoples Colony, Akhiri Bus Stop, Dhok Syedan, Shalley Valley, and Dhok Banaras, among others, if heavy rainfalls continue. The cantonment boards reportedly lack the necessary machinery to drain water from any low-lying areas within the cantonment, while Wasa's available machinery is primarily deployed along Murree Road and other prominent areas.

Sources indicate that the threat of urban flooding persists, and despite the numerous meetings conducted, no concrete plan has been presented by the relevant institutions to address the immediate need for water drainage in low-lying areas.