Flooding sparks property sell-off

The monsoon season seems to have ended after the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad experienced four spells of flooding in a month, but the devastating effects of the September 1 floods continue to wreak havoc across Rawalpindi.

Residents of low-lying areas, fearing further flooding, have started putting up "House for Sale" signs in their streets. In flood-affected areas, black water is reportedly coming out of gas stoves instead of gas, while sewage-contaminated water continues to be supplied through drinking-water lines.

The lack of proper cleaning has left a foul stench across streets and neighbourhoods in low-lying areas, while layers of contaminated mud remain on roads and streets even on the fifth day after the floods. As no street has been completely cleaned, residents fear that diseases are spreading in the affected areas

Eye and throat infections, colds, flu and fever have become common among residents of the flooded areas.

The Meteorological Department had forecast heavy rain for September 4 and 5, triggering panic among residents of the affected areas. However, Rawalpindi received only light drizzle for a few hours on both days, followed by bright sunshine.

Residents welcomed the sunshine and placed water-soaked sofas, furniture and other belongings damaged in the floods in streets and vacant plots to dry.

In areas where black water had started coming out of gas stoves, teams from the gas utility have begun cleaning the affected stoves and pipelines.

Work to clean gas and drinking-water pipelines laid alongside sewerage drains has also been accelerated, while a large number of residents are arranging for pipeline cleaning on a self-help basis.

The latest flooding was reportedly the second major flood in the area since 2000. In the lowest-lying areas, floodwater completely submerged single-storey buildings, while water levels elsewhere ranged from two to eight feet.

The flooding has also affected property prices across the low-lying parts of the city. A large number of residents in affected areas have started putting up "For Sale" signs outside their homes, while investors are offering prices below both market value and the official property rates set by the deputy commissioner.

Residents of Javed Colony and Mohalla Fazalabad, Ibadat Hussain and Nasir Ali, said they had lived in the area for 20 years and that floodwater had risen by around one to one-and-a-half feet every year.

"This time, single-storey buildings were completely submerged. These areas have now become permanently vulnerable to flooding, which is why we are being forced to sell our homes," they said.

Residents said storm-water drains cause the most destruction in the inner city. There are reportedly 15 storm-water drains in Rawalpindi, around 80% of which have been encroached upon by permanent structures.