NAROWAL: Torrential rains in Narowal and Sialkot left one woman dead and seven others injured in two roof-collapse incidences late on Tuesday. Over 12 hours rain late on Tuesday and on Wednesday also swallowed water levels in the River Chenab and seasonal nullahs in the region.

The roof of a house collapsed in Rasool Nagar in Narowal on Wednesday where a girl died while her mother was seriously injured.

The house belonged to laburer Muhammad Sharif. His wife Safia Begam (50) was injured while his daughter Samina (20) died. Rescue 1122 personnel with local residents retrieved them from debris. Safia was being treated at the District Headquarters Hospital. Doctors said she was out of danger.

Also, rainwater inundated the Shakargarh Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital other buildings.

Patients, their attendants and the staff faced great difficulties in wards while power supply to the hospital remained suspended for about 15 hours.

The THQ hospital drained the rainwater with a pump.

The Shakargarh Saddar Police Station was also under rainwater while streets and markets were under two to three feet rainwater. Working at passport, health and agriculture remained affected.

SIALKOT: Six people of a family were injured when the roof of their room caved in on Wednesday during torrential downpour in village Kotli Miani-Begowala, Sambrial.

The roof collapse at the house of Lal Din left injured Balqees Bibi (65), Gulfam (35), Maria Bibi (22), Noshita Irfan (7), Aysha Irfan (5) and Isha Fatima (3).

The residents and Rescue 1122 personnel pulled out the injured from debris and shifted them to the Government Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital. Doctors said the injured had received serious head injuries with fractures of their ribs, arms and legs.

It rained 66.8mm at Sialkot Cantt and 29.2mm at Sialkot airport on Wednesday.

Also, the roof of a godown of the clay pots also collapsed during heavy rain in Pasrur city’s Umeedpura locality. No loss of life was reported.

Due to rains, the water level soared in the Chenab at Head Marala where the upstream flow was 139,526 cusces and downstream 116,292 cusecs. This makes a low-level flood at the Head Marala.

Acting Sialkot deputy commissioner Dr Umer Sher Chatta said that the water flow in the River Jammu at Saidpur-Head Marala was 12,689 cusecs and in the River Tavi near Head Marala 8,789 cusecs . The Nullah Dek was calm with 824 cusecs flow near Kingra.

Often calm, the Nullah Palkhu, however played havoc as it was in high flood with 3,070 cusecs.

The floodwater breached the dyke near Korpur village inundating villages Nangal, Chitti Sheikhaan, Korpur and Ghunsaarpur. This flood water also ruined the seasonal crops on hundreds of acres.

Four buffaloes also died in the strong current of flood water.Mr Chatta said the entire flood situation was under control in Sialkot district. He said that the concerned departments were busy in rescue activities in villages (in the surroundings of Sialkot city) hit due to spate in flooded Naullah Dek here today.Work on the dyke was underway.

In Sambrial, three breeches occurred due to flooding in the Nullah Aik near villages Sahibkey Cheema, Chak Chohdo and Dhillum Balaggun. Several farms came under water.

Sambrial Assistant Commissioner Tauqeer Ilyas Cheema said the breaches were being repaired there.

Also, the day-long torrential rain rang the flooding danger in Sialkot, after water level soared in the Nullah Palhu.Rain also paralyses routine life in Sialkot as the public transport could not ply on roads.

The knee-deep rainwater and puddles here and there made cities no-go areas.

The Sialkot MET office forecast on Wednesday more rains in the Sialkot on Thursday.

GUJRAT: People suffered a lot due to the heavy rain consequent choked sewerage and drainage systems.

The rain started late on Tuesday and continued for almost 12 hours leaving houses, commercial markets, shops, district bar room as well as all the government buildings inundated.

The routine life remained suspended on Wednesday while the Gujrat Municipal Corporation failed to drain out the rainwater though Mayor Haji Nasir Mehmmod inspected water disposal stations and storm water channels of the city.

There were many reports of heavy losses as furniture, computers and valuable records of public and private sector offices due to the rainwater.

A groom was seen pushing his own decorated car on water-filled city road.

People lodged a strong protest against the inability of the civic agencies to resolve the long standing issue of poor sewerage system of the city.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2017