Powerful rainwashing twin cities of rawalpindi and Islamabad overnight, causing the water and sanitation agency (WASA) to issue a high alarm and declare a rain emergency in the midst of fear of water accumulation in low-lying areas.
According to WASA CEO Muhammad Saleem Ashraf, WASA teams have been fitted with heavy machinery in low-lying areas. He declared that machines were immediately sent to the selection of Chowk Downfall and Murree Road as soon as the rain began to ensure efficient drainage.
According to the meteorological department’s data, Saidpur received the highest rainfall with 80 mm registered, followed by 40 mm at PMD, 20 mm at Shamsabad and 15 mm at Pirwadhai.
Wasa MD added that in the upland area Nullah Lai, especially at Saidpur, 80 mm of rain was registered within just one hour. The water level in Nullah Lai is continuously monitored and for now the current remains normal.
Read: NDMA emits new alarm for heavy rain, storms across the country
At Katarian, the water level in Nullah Lai rose to 11 feet while reaching 5 meters at Gawalmandi Bridge. However, after the rain stopped, the water level withdrew to 5 feet.
The WASA chief assured that the department is fully prepared to handle any potential emergency and is in constant coordination with all relevant agencies.
Citizens have been asked to avoid low -lying areas unnecessarily and immediately contact WASA’s guideline in case of emergency.
According to National Disaster Management Authority, Flash’s floods and heavy rain have killed 64 people and wounded 117 nationwide over the past week.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has been the worst hit with 23 fatalities, including 10 children. In Punjab, 21 people lost their lives, while Sindh and Balochistan reported 15 and 5 deaths respectively.
