RAWALPINDI: Civil and military rescue teams are on red alert after the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned of heavy rain and possible flooding in Leh Nullah.

The NDMA and PMD warned Rawalpindi authorities of flood threats due to heavy rainfall expected on Thursday, leading the district administration to put rescue teams on alert and mobilise local machinery for the safety of residents of low-lying areas along Leh Nullah.

Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood told Dawn that the NDMA issued warnings for possible flooding, after which all Wasa staff along with staff from other departments were placed on red alert.

He said flood response teams, along with machinery and de-watering sets have been deployed in low-lying areas along Leh Nullah. The military is also assisting the civil administration during the monsoon, he said.

He added that rain is expected in the catchments of the Khanpur and Rawal dams, which means they will be full and able to meet the water requirements of Rawalpindi residents.

Mr Mehmood said: “Rawal Dam was full on Wednesday and the spillways were opened to drain additional water. The water reservoir for Rawalpindi will be able to meet requirements for water until next year.”

“The water level in Kanpur Dam is still low at 1,974 feet, while the dam [reaches capacity] at 1,982ft. If the dam [fills up] during the current spell of rain, it will meet the water requirements of the city and cantonment areas until next monsoon,” he said.

Rainfall in twin cities

Rain continued until Wednesday night with small breaks in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, bringing the temperature down to 27°C.

The Met Office recorded 19 millimetres of rainfall in Zero Point, 25mm in Saidpur, 30mm in Bokra, 34mm in Golra, 31mm at the Islamabad International Airport, 26mm in Shamsabad and 19mm in Chaklala. More rainfall has been forecast in the next 24 hours.

“Strong monsoon currents are penetrating in upper and lower parts of the country. A westerly wave is also affecting upper parts of the country, which is likely to strengthen Wednesday night,” a Met official said.

He added that rain and gusts of wind are expected in most districts in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad and Kashmir. Heavy rainfall is also likely to occur in Islamabad, upper Punjab, upper and central KP and Kashmir. Rain-thunderstorms are expected in isolated places in Sindh and eastern Balochistan.

Sheikh Rashid visits Leh Nullah

Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and PTI MNA Sheikh Rashid Shafique visited Gawalmandi on Wednesday to inspect the administration’s preparation for flooding in the garrison city.

Sheikh Rashid said that work on the Leh Expressway and flood channel would begin soon, which would resolve the flooding issue in the city once and for all.

He said that train traffic has been disturbed by heavy rainfall in Karachi and the upper parts of Sindh, and efforts are ongoing to drain water from the railway lines and stations so that rail traffic can flow smoothly.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2020