Alarming level: Sirens wail in Pindi as rain lashes twin cities

Water level at Nullah Leh reaches 14 feet, authorities on alert.

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD:

The torrential rain that has been lashing the twin cities since Sunday forced the Rawalpindi district government to declare a ‘rain emergency’ on Monday evening.

DCO Sajid Zafar Dal said the water level at Nullah Leh had reached 14 feet. “I have ordered for alert sirens to be rung,” he said, adding that “this is as per the standard operating procedure as the evacuation level is 20 feet. “We are hoping things do not reach that point as there is a four-hour rain break forecast.”

 

PHOTO: INP

The district government also issued flood warning for residents living in the low lying areas of the garrison city, especially the areas of Gawalmandi and Arya Mohalla.

Moreover Rescue 1122 and the Civil Defense Department were put on high alert and directed to respond timely to any incidents of disaster. Additionally, the water and sanitation department of Rawalpindi Development Authority, Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) and Tehsil Municipal Authority of Rawal Town have sent teams to low lying localities to keep the sewerage lines open.

 

PHOTO: INP

“All the agencies are working together to ensure removal of water from roads and streams.  We appeal to the public to help us keep the drains open,” said RWMC Managing Director Irfan Qureshi.

In Rawalpindi, the Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD) recorded 89 millimeters of rain at Bokra, 72mm in Chaklala and 67mm in Shamsabad.  In Islamabad, 67mm of rain was recorded at Zero Point, 87mm at Golra and 72mm in Saidpur.

The most affected areas where rainwater accumulated on the roads and streets were the localities alongside Benazir Bhutto Road where under-construction sewerage lines failed to drain out rainwater, turning the road into a stream. The accumulation of water forced motorists and pedestrians to wade through the water-logged road.

Sewage lines overflowed in Kirtarpura, Gawalmandi, Arya Mohalla, Fauji Colony, Sadiqabad, Shamsabad, Sir Syed Road, Rawal Road, Cha Sultan and Shakrial areas of Rawalpindi inundating the streets.

Changing patterns

Talking to The Express Tribune, Dr Ghulam Rasul, chief meteorologist at PMD, said the rains which began end February and are continuing are unusual as the cities usually do not witness them during these months.

“It is almost after nine years that we are witnessing rain in February and March. The weather pattern has been influenced by climate change,” he said.

He stated that the intensity [of rain] will reduce from Tuesday morning, but added that another spell of heavy rain is expected from March 8 for a couple of days along with heavy snowfall in the hilly areas.

Talking about crops, he said the water will be used for sowing cotton seeds in the summer, which will be beneficial for wheat growers of the Potohar region but not for others.

It is expected that the rain will continue till mid March, which will further delay the onset of pollen allergy season in the capital, Rasul added.

“Considering the weather patterns it is expected that this year the pollen allergy season will be short and normal,” he shared.

Traffic jams and injuries

Since Sunday till late Monday evening, the emergency ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Polyclinic had received around 30 people suffering from injuries of varying nature from road accidents.

Meanwhile, massive traffic jams were reported on Benazir Bhutto Road, Faizabad, Koral Chowk, Mareer Chowk, Pindora, Chandi Chowk, Margalla Road, I-8 Chowk near Shakarparian, and Islamabad Expressway, among other major arteries of the two cities.

Islamabad Traffic Police DSP Muhammad Hashmi said all traffic personnel were deputed at various points to ensure a smooth flow of traffic. He said rainwater had accumulated near Kulsoom Plaza due to which motorists faced inconvenience. He said no major traffic incident had been reported till late evening. At the Airport Road in front of Gulzar-e-Quaid Colony, around 25 cars were seen stranded.

Yousaf Durrani, a Banigala resident en route from Rawalpindi, said “It was total chaos as people were driving on the wrong side to avoid getting stuck in water pools.”

In a press release, the ISPR stated that army personnel had been alerted to respond to any flood-related emergency in Rawalpindi and assist in possible rescue efforts for residents of low-lying areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2015.