RAWALPINDI: Heavy rain lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Saturday morning, inundating low lying areas in the garrison city.

The Met Office has predicted more rain today (Sunday).

The residents of twin cities woke up to a rainy weather but later the sunny afternoon made the weather humid.

According to Meteorological Department, last month temperature remained above 40°C with maximum 43°C in early July.

The rain brought the temperature down to 30 in the federal capital and adjoining garrison city.

The Meteorological Department recorded 40mm rain at Zero Point, 15mm at Golra, 14mm at Bokra, 10mm at Saidpur and traces at Airport in Islamabad and 48mm at Chaklala and 38mm at Shamsabad in Rawalpindi.

It forecast more rain and cool breeze sweeping northern parts of the country including Potohar region during next 48 hours.

“A low pressure has developed over western Balochistan and weak and moist currents are reaching upper and central parts of the country. We can expect more rainfall during next 24 hours and the temperature is likely to further decline in coming days in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad,” said an official of Meteorological Department.

The rain started early morning at 7:15 am and continued till 8:30 am but it exposed the improper drainage system of the city.

The sewerage system in downtown and the area adjacent to Leh Nullah was choked and the water accumulated in the streets of low lying areas.

People had a tough time in draining out water from their houses in many parts of the city including Dingi Khoi, Akalgarh, Nadeem Colony, Javed Colony, Dhoke Ratta, Jamia Masjid Road, Bani Chowk, Sadiqabad, Satellite Town, Bohar Bazaar, Muslim Town, Service Road and Chirah Road near Shamsabad .

The residents of downtown criticised the government and said that the present and past governments were equally responsible for the faulty sewerage system.

Naveed Ahmed, a resident of Akalgarh, said that rainwater entered their house and it took two to three hours to drain it out. Bilal Ali Shah, a resident of Jamia Masjid Road, said the provincial government had spent millions of rupees but water submerged this part of the city soon after therain.

When contacted, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Raja Shaukat Mehmood said though thecity recorded 48 mm rain, the Leh Nullah did not rise above six feet.

He said that the Wasa and all other departments were on alert to deal with emergency but no such situation emerged.

However, he admitted that the rainwater had submerged some areas creating problems for people.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2020