RAWALPINDI: The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad continued to receive rain for third consecutive day on Wednesday, inundating low lying areas in the garrison city.

The Meteorological Department recorded 7mm rain at Airport, 6mm at Saidpur, 1mm at Bokra and 9mm at Golra in Islamabad while 8mm at shamsabad and 17mm at Chaklala in Rawalpindi.

According to Met department official, strong monsoon currents from Bay of Bengal over upper and lower parts of the country and a shallow westerly wave present over upper parts of the country may cause more rains.

“More thundershower is expected in Kashmir, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan and Sindh. Heavy falls are also expected in south Punjab, lower Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, upper Sindh and northeast Balochistan at scattered places,” he said.

Moderate to heavy rain started on Tuesday night and continued till Wednesday morning. However, few hours rain exposed the drainage system of the garrison city. The sewer system in downtown and the area adjacent to Leh Nullah was choked and the overflowing water accumulated in the streets of low lying areas.

“The rain exposed the poor sewerage system in the garrison city but the rain will end the water shortage in the area,” said Akram Raja, a resident of Jamia Masjid Road.

He said the people dumped the animal food waste in the nullahs instead of throwing in the waste bins installed at different parts of the city which blocked the sewerage system.

Malik Ahmed, a resident of Mohanpura, said during the rain, the people faced electricity shut down in many areas of the city especially those living along Leh Nullah.

When contacted, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood said water did accumulate in some areas but they managed to clear within an hour.

Replying to a question, he said water level in Leh Nullah remained low.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2021