June 10, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 05, 1429

SIALKOT, June 9: Widespread rains followed by a windstorm lashed the entire district on Monday, simultaneously bringing miseries as well as relief to some.

Strong winds brought down a large number of trees as a result of which traffic remained suspended for several hours on inter-city roads.

The torrential rains also affected the electricity and communication systems, and power supply remained suspended for many hours in urban as well as rural areas of Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur.

The already incapacitated sewerage and drainage systems in these cities failed to flush out stagnant rainwater, which inundated almost all urban areas, paralysing the civic life and exposing the inefficiency of municipal authorities.

Along with the sufferings, the rains had a positive impact too. The people got some respite from the scorching heat wave gripping the area for last few days. Also, the paddy growers have welcomed these rains, terming them a good omen for their annual cultivation.

Meanwhile, thousands of villagers living across River Tavi along the working boundary on Monday remained stranded after wooden belly bridge near Saidpur had been washed out due to a spate in the river.

These villages remained cut off from the rest of the district as no rehabilitation work could be started immediately and also because there is no alternative available for them to travel across the river.

They have protested inordinate delay in the construction of 1300-foot bridge over River Tavi. The project started four years ago was yet to be completed allegedly after falling prey to political and bureaucratic bottlenecks.

The officials concerned said that the repair of the bridge would start only after the water level in the river would decrease.

The water level was already increasing in all rivers and seasonal nullahs, including Aik, Deg, Bhed and Palkhu, following the three-day rains in the entire region.

The district administration has put all the departments concerned on alert, and they are monitoring the flood situation regularly.

District Coordination Officer (DCO) Capt Atta Muhammad Khan (retired) told reporters that they had subdivided the district into 15 sectors and 33 sub-sectors to cope with flooding threats.

He directed the revenue, health, civil defence and roads departments to complete all necessary arrangements and take all preventive measures before the start of the flooding season.