Seasonal trouble: Slow drainage impedes road traffic after rain

Drainage of rain water from most roads completed by 5:30pm, says Lahore DCO’s public relations officer

LAHORE:

At least four people were injured in two rain-related incidents in the city on Tuesday. 

Several major roads were inundated slowing the flow of traffic following a heavy rain shower around noon. The drainage of water from affected roads had not been completed till the evening.

In Baghbanpura, the roof of a house collapsed during the rain and trapped three members of the family living there under the debris. They were rescued and taken to a hospital by a Rescue 1122 team. A man was injured in another roof collapse reported from near Jallo Park.



Talking to The Express Tribune, Lahore DCO Capt (retd) Muhammad Usman said the CDGL had identified several dangerous buildings ahead of the monsoon and advised the occupants to move out or get them repaired.

Heavy rain shower around noon inundated Lakshmi Chowk, McLeod Road, Bhati Gate, Davis Road, Lower Mall, Chauburgi, Islampura, Naulakha, Shadman, Shahdara and Outfall Road areas.

The stranded commuters complained of the slow pace of drainage effort of the city district administration. Muhammad Imtiaz, whose motorcycle malfunctioned as he was driving on Davis Road, said that the city district government should ensure timely drainage of rain water from major roads. “Monsoon rains come every year. It isn’t something that has appeared out of the blue. The government should be prepared to deal with it,” he said.



Others said poor drainage in the city was due to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s absence. Taj Anwer, stuck in his car that broke down near the Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry, said that the chief minister had been out of the country. “Government officials do not care to do their job during his absence,” he said.

Imran Maqbool, public relations officer (PRO) for the Lahore district administration officer, said DCO Capt (retd) Muhammad Usman and Commissioner Abdullah Sumbal visited several low-lying areas and monitored drainage operations. He said besides the Water and Sanitation Agency staff, services of workers from the Lahore Waste Management Company were also secured for drainage work in the city.

He said rain water had been drained from most roads by 5:30pm. He said it took longer to drain rain water from Link Waris Road, Tikka Chowk in Johar Town, Do Moria Pul Road and Kashmir Road.

Maqbool said Link Waris Road was the worst affected with water standing up to six inches deep. The water level was recorded at five inches on Cooper Road and at two inches at Tikka Chowk, Johar Town, Do Moria Pul and Kashmir Road.

Traffic flow on these roads remained slow throughout the day. Traffic jams were reported from Chauburji and Naulakha Chowk.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2015.