A bus trapped on a flooded road in Bhimber. PHOTO: INP, ONLINE
Incessant rain and cold winds plunged parts of Rawalpindi and into darkness for 17 hours after several feeders tripped. Gas loadshedding further aggravated citizens amid rainfall that continued for 15 hours and flooded low-lying parts of the city.
Attendance at government offices and schools remained thin as people struggled to wade through the flooded roads and streets.
Rainwater also accumulated in houses due to blocked drainage lines. Complaints of clogged drains and flooded streets were reported in Dhok Chiraghdin, Dheri Hassanabad, Rawal Road, Chah Sultan, Fauji Colony, Dhok Kala Khan, Sir Syed Road, Raja Bazaar and Marrir Hassan.
The residents criticised the civic agency for not paying attention to improve the drainage system to protect their houses from flooding.
“Our neighbourhood even gets flooded if there is a mild shower. The situation in nearby areas is just as bad,” said Ahmad Ali, a resident of Kirtarpura. Many residents of the area could be seen removing rainwater from their houses.
Meanwhile, the water level in Nullah Leh rose two metres, Rescue 1122 reported. Rescue and police officials said no casualties were reported in the city.
The rain also brought good news for farmers. “If the rain continued with intervals we are hopeful of achieving the set target of 320,000 tons of wheat,” said Agriculture District Officer Dr Arif.
He said the rain will have a positive effect on the ongoing plantation season and urged the locals to plant as many plants as possible.
The Met office said Rawalpindi received 95 mm of rain during the last 24 hours, while Islamabad received 84 mm. The minimum temperature in the twin cities was 7°C. Two feet of snow was reported in Murree in the last 48 hours.
Meanwhile, farther north, Rawalakot received 137 mm of rain, Mangla 112mm, Kotli, 93mm, and Muzaffarabad 80 mm. Heavy snowfall was recorded in Murree‚ Kalaam‚ Astore and Parachinar.
The Islamabad-Murree dual carriageway has been closed for traffic because of heavy snowfall from Hakas camp to Lower Topa. Traffic has been diverted to old Murree road from Phulgran Toll plaza. In Hazara Division‚ several feet of snowfall has been recorded in Abbottabad district.
In Azad Jammu and Kashmir‚ the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar road and roads leading to Neelum and Leepa valleys were blocked by landslides and heavy snowfall.
Snowfall in the upper reaches and rain in the plains of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) continued for the last two days, forcing the people to remain indoors and wear warm clothes. According to the Met office, more rain and heavy snowfall is expected in the next 24 hours.
The main roads of Neelum and Leepa valley remained closed for all vehicular traffic, while a landslide at Barsala closed the Muzaffarabad-Islamabad land link. Rescue 15 officials told The Express Tribune that the Muzafarabad-Abbottabad road was also blocked by heavy landslides in Lohar Gali.
Upper Neelum, Kel and Taubutt were cut off from Muzaffarabad and the main Neelum Valley road from Athmuqam to Taubut was snowed out. Falling rocks blocked the Neelum Valley road from Muzaffarabad to Athmuqam, while many other roads in Muzaffarabad and Bagh were flooded.
The Met office said that Athmuqam, the district headquarters of Neelum Valley received 24 mm of rain, Haveli 30 mm, and Muzaffarabad 20.5mm during the last 12 hours.
The Met office further said that the weather in AJK will stay the same till Wednesday night, with the minimum temperatures across the state hovering between zero and two degrees Celsius.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 12th, 2014.
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