12 February 2005	Saturday	02 Muharram 1426

ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: Over 200 people have suffered wounds, cuts and bruises in separate rain-related traffic accidents in the capital during the prevailing wet-spell continuing for over a week now.

On an average, 20 people are visiting the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences every day with rain-related injuries. Likewise, as many as 10 such patients are daily reporting to the Federal Government Services Hospital.

A large number of the injured were reportedly motorbike riders. According to doctors, most of the injured had minor injuries. The injured termed poor condition of roads as the main reason of accidents during rains.

They complained that rain water-filled potholes on roads posed danger to motorists, especially motorcyclists. As a result, a number of motorcyclist are preferring to use public transport to avoid any accident.

Now that the rains have exposed poor condition of the roads, it is the responsibility of the Capital Development Authority to take steps to ameliorate the situation and ensure safety of road users in future, the residents said.

The rain is also posing threat to a large number of mud- houses situated in the adjacent areas of Islamabad. During a roof collapse at Bharakahu the other day, three persons were reportedly injured.

It has also been learnt that the rain is damaging various government and private buildings, including the roof of the Out Patient Department at the Federal Government Services Hospital.