Mighty rain fells power wires and branches, inundates roads

Islamabad received 50mm, while Pindi received 30mm of rain.

RAWALPINDI:

While a thunderstorm on Thursday eased the sweltering weather in the twin cities, it also disrupted routine life.

Zero Point in Islamabad received the most rain at 50mm. Bokra followed with 30mm, while Saidpur village received 17mm of rain, according to a web update by the Pakistan Meteorological Department at 8pm on Thursday.

The most rain recorded in Rawalpindi was 30mm at RAMC. Chaklala received 9mm of rain.

The temperature in the twin cities fell from an average of 36 Celsius over the past three days to 33 Celsius in Islamabad and 34 Celsius in Rawalpindi. The humidity levels also declined.

Fallen branches and an accident

A number of trees were uprooted in both Rawalpindi and Islamabad, with electricity cables falling on the ground in various localities including Mareer Hassan, Sehgal Street, Qasim Army Aviation Base, and Chakri Road in Pindi.

At around quarter to seven, when it was raining, a car skid off the road and fell down from Soan Bus Terminal Bridge, injuring two people. Rescue 1122 moved the injured persons to District Headquarter Hospital Rawalpindi, where doctors said both patients are in critical condition. The two were identified as Hamayun, 45, and Nosheen, 23, and are from Gulraiz Phase-II in Rawalpindi.

Inundated streets

Rainwater chocked the drains and sewage system in a number of places in Rawalpindi. Roads in Raja Bazaar, Iqbal Road, Liaquat Road, Arya Mohala, Ganjmandi, Gawalmandi, the areas alongside Nullah Leh, Mareer Chowk, Mareer Hassan, Saddar, Kashmir Road, Benazir Bhutto Road, The Mall, RA Bazaar, Jhanda Cheechi, Shakeryal, Lal Kurti, 22 Number, Peshawar Road, Misrial Road, Dhoke Seydan, Girja Road, Baraf Khana Chowk, Tahli Mohri, Dheri Hassanabad, Adyala Road, Morgah, Sihala Road, Model Town, Humak were all inundated.

The Water and Sanitation Agency, Chaklala Cantonment Board and Rawalpindi Cantonment Board had earlier claimed on a number of occasions that they had cleaned the drains to ensure that the roads are not inundated.

Traffic jams and a blackout   

Thousands of commuters were stuck in traffic, with people breaking fasts on the roads. Water also went into the vehicles and stalled the engines.

Scores of pushcart owners and other vendors had to shut down their businesses due to the downpour, forcing many people to go home without items for iftar.

Power supply was cut off to a large number of areas in Rawalpindi when the rain started. However people did not seem to mind much due to the pleasant weather, allowing their children to go out to play in the rain.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2012.