ISLAMABAD, July 20: While the downpour which started after Sehri turned the weather in the federal capital pleasant, it also paralysed life in the city as drainage system was choked and water entered government buildings including the Prime Minister Staff Colony.

Rainwater also entered a number of houses and buildings in low-lying areas and affected the construction work there.

The retaining wall of the Prime Minister Staff Colony collapsed as the nullah which passed from the rear side of the colony was flooded. Water entered the area and Capital Development Authority (CDA) staff had to divert the nullah and drain the water from the colony.

Similarly, the rainwater gushed into the basement of the Cabinet Division Pak Secretariat, Working Women Hostel G-6/3, Commercial Area, New Aabpara, the plazas near China Chowk and some houses in F, G and I sectors. Slums in G-6/2 were also affected and the CDA staff reached these areas to drain water out.

Member Environment CDA Ahsan Ali Mangi, while talking to Dawn, said the sanitation department, the emergency rescue and the machine pool took part in the operation and drained out water from buildings located all over the city.

“We had done an assessment of the nullahs in the capital before the monsoon began, and at a number of places, the nullahs were widened for smooth flow of water. However, in some areas people constructed their houses again, thus narrowing the nullahs,” he said.

He said the constructions were carried out on the nullah near PM Staff Colony in G-11 and in G-7/2 near a mosque, which had caused the nullahs to overflow.

“If water is blocked at one place, it affects the whole drainage system. The CDA is operating round the clock and there will be no problem if normal rain continues for the next two days. However, no arrangements can be made for extraordinary rainfall,” he said.

Arfaq Ahmed, a resident of I-10/2, said rainwater entered the basement of his house and he had to call professionals to drain water out. “They charged Rs2,000 to drain water from the basement. In case of another heavy rain, I might have to call them again,” he said.

More rain predicted

Metrological Department has predicted rain in Islamabad for the next two days.

According to meteorologist Imran Ahmed Siddique, 218mm rain was recorded at Saidpur. Minimum temperature in Islamabad was 22 degrees Celsius while the maximum was 26 degrees Celsius.

Rush at public parks

At the same time, rain also turned weather pleasant due to which a large number of people went to public areas, including Daman-i-Koh.

This also resulted in an increase in traffic on roads.

Mohammad Naeem, who had come to Rawal Dam, along with his family, said: “I have hardly seen such weather in July. Because of the cool breeze, it feels like November.”

“During Ramazan, I prefer to stay in the house but because of the pleasant weather, I decided to visit some public place,” he said.

TAXILA: Several motorists traveling on Rawalpindi-Peshawar G.T. Road were stuck in water accumulated at an underpass near Taxila main chowk, as the National Highway Authority failed to ensure proper drainage of rainwater.

The four-lane underpass at Taxila, inaugurated by former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gillani on October 6, 2011, does not have proper arrangements to flush accumulated water.

Therefore, after every heavy rain spell, the underpass becomes inaccessible to motorists and their vehicles ran the risk of breaking down.