Pre-monsoon rain disrupts daily life

Low-lying areas submerge under water; residents move belongings to safer locations

RAWALPINDI:

A torrential pre-monsoon downpour lasting barely half an hour brought life across Rawalpindi to a complete standstill on Wednesday, inundating roads, paralysing traffic and exposing shortcomings in the city's drainage infrastructure.

The intense rain, accompanied by thunder, lightning and strong winds, transformed the weather, providing much-needed relief from the sweltering heat and humidity that had gripped the city for the past week. Residents welcomed the cooler conditions as rain washed dust-covered trees and streets, leaving the city greener and refreshed.

However, the heavy downpour quickly overwhelmed the drainage system. Water accumulated up to three feet deep in several low-lying neighbourhoods, while major thoroughfares, including Murree Road, Rawal Road, Mall Road and key roads in Saddar, remained submerged for hours.

Traffic movement was severely disrupted as flooded roads forced traffic wardens to seek shelter, leading to widespread congestion across the city. Motorcyclists faced particular difficulties, with several riders reportedly slipping and falling on waterlogged roads, especially along Adamjee Road in Saddar.

Numerous residential areas, including Arya Mohalla, Nadeem Colony, Javed Colony, Dhoke Elahi Bakhsh, Fazalabad, Chah Sultan, Dhoke Khabba, Fauji Colony, Sadiqabad, Zia-ul-Haq Colony, People's Colony, Tench Bhatta and Shalley Valley, experienced significant flooding after rainwater entered streets and residential lanes.

The rainfall also highlighted concerns over incomplete drainage maintenance. The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) had previously announced extensive cleaning operations of Nullah Leh and 15 seasonal drainage channels ahead of the pre-monsoon season.

Despite the allocation of approximately Rs80 million for desilting and cleaning works, the drainage network failed to cope with the short but intense spell of rain.

Following the downpour, WASA teams were deployed to Committee Chowk Underpass and other affected areas to carry out emergency drainage operations and restore normal traffic flow.

Several government and private offices in Saddar reported water entering their premises, while ageing buildings in the inner city suffered roof leakages. Public transport infrastructure was also affected, with Metro Bus stations experiencing roof leaks and rainwater seeping onto platforms. Passengers further reported water entering buses through leaking roofs, raising concerns about maintenance standards.

The flooding has heightened fears among residents of low-lying areas ahead of the monsoon season. With the risk of urban flooding and potential overflow in Nullah Leh and seasonal streams, many residents have already begun moving valuable belongings to safer locations as a precautionary measure.

The latest rainfall serves as a stark reminder of the city's vulnerability to seasonal weather events and the urgent need for comprehensive drainage improvements before the arrival of the full monsoon season.