Downpour in AJK: Torrential rains bring life to standstill

Low-lying areas flooded; electricity, communication network disrupted.

MIRPUR:

Early monsoon rains wreaked havoc in various parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Thursday, damaging property especially in low-lying and slum areas.

The rains disrupted electricity and telecommunication network and inundated roads in various districts of AJK. Various parts of Mirpur district are in the grip of heavy rains for the last two days, breaking the hot spell but causing floods in low-lying areas, according to official sources.

In some parts of Mirpur city, trees and hoardings were uprooted as a result of a rainstorm that lasted for over an hour.

New Mirpur city, constructed for the rehabilitation of over 70,000 persons affected by the Mangla Dam Raising Project, was among the worst-hit areas.

Boundary walls of several houses collapsed and the low-lying areas of Mirpur-Kotli Highway were inundated with rainwater, disrupting traffic flow for several hours.

Rainwater entered roadside buildings in the populous F/1 and F/2 Sectors of Sangoat and other areas in the proximity of Mangla Lake. Seasonal water channels were also flooded.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Mirpur Masoodur Rehman said that concerned field staff has been put on alert to counter any eventuality during the monsoon rains.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2012.