RAWALPINDI: Friday’s rainfall was the highest received in this season so far in the twin cities. Water level in Leh Nullah rose to 18ft, with residents of the city fearing a flood.

The rain started before Fajr prayers in the morning and continued till 7am, bringing the temperature down to 25°C. The district administration, Civil Defence Department and Rescue 1122 remained on high alert throughout the day, in case of an emergency.

Water accumulated in low-lying areas and residents remained busy draining it out from their houses. Roads in some areas were a slushy mess. Ali Hussain, resident of Arya Mohallah, said that the rainwater inundated many areas along big drains. He said that taking precaution, his family shifted household items to the upper story.

Mohammad Ahmed, a resident of Misrial Road, said that Rawalpindi Cantonment Board did not clean nullahs and drains. Sanitation situation went from bad to worse in the cantonment, he added.

The Meteorological Department recorded 114 millimetres of rainfall at Golra, 91mm at Saidpur, 57mm near the airport, 33mm at Zero Point, 12mm at Bokra, 20mm at Shamsabad and 14mm at Chaklala.

More rain is expected in the twin cities during the next 24 hours.

“Monsoon currents are penetrating in upper parts of the country. A shallow westerly wave is also present over upper parts of the country,” a Met official said, adding most of the country will be humid, however, rain and wind is expected in Islamabad, upper Punjab, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, southeast Sindh and Kashmir.

“The Leh Nullah rose to 18ft but the situation remained under control due to dredging of the nullah before the monsoon,” Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood told Dawn.

Wasa officials remained on alert to deal with any emergency, he said, adding heavy rain raised the water level in Leh Nullah, however, the water receded soon.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2020