RAWALPINDI: The heavy rain on Tuesday afternoon brought a respite from the sultry and humid weather but inundated low-lying areas in the garrison city besides creating gridlocks on roads.

Commuters remained stuck for up to an hour as almost all main roads in the city were flooded with rainwater.

Hundreds of vehicles, including public transport, motorcyclists and even ambulances, stranded at Mareer Chowk, Committee Chowk underpass, Chandni Chowk, Raja Bazaar, Bohar Bazaar and Soan Bridge.

The Meteorological Department recorded 95mm rain at Chaklala in Rawalpindi, 6mm rainat Zero Point, 4mm at Saidpur, 8mm at Golra and 45mm at Bokra in Islamabad. More rains have been predicted in the twin cities and adjoining areas till September 11.

Met Office predicts more showers till 11th

The rain continued for half an hour and inundated many areas. Rainwater entered houses along Leh Nullah. Residents of Arya Mohallah, Tipu Road, Javed Colony, Mohanpura, Amarpura, Ferozpura, Akal Garh, Jamia Masjid Road, Sadiqabad, Satellite Town, Lane 4 and Tench Bhatta remained busy till the evening to drain out water from their houses and shops.

Rawalpindi is becoming a worst congested city for traffic due to poor planning. The increasing number of private cars, lack of a mass transport system, unavailability of parking places and encroachments are playing a major role in creating mess on roads.

The most affected commuters were those who use Murree Road as there was traffic jam at Liaquat Bagh Chowk, Tipu Road, Rawal Road and the old airport road near Gulzar-i-Quaid.

When contacted, Wasa Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood claimed that water had accumulated in some areas but heavy machinery was used to drain it out.

“We managed to clear the water within an hour. The water level in Leh Nullah remained at four feet at Gowalmandi and six feet at Kattarian.”

He said Wasa had already imposed a rain emergency and deputed machinery in low-lying areas to drain out water in case of heavy rains in coming days.

Rawalpindi Waste Management Company Managing Director Awais Manzoor Tarar said workers remained on their toes to clean the city and drains.

According to a Met Office official, strong monsoon currents were penetrating into the upper and central parts of the country.

According to a weather advisory, rain/wind-thundershowers will occur in the country in current week with occasional gaps.

“More monsoon currents are likely to penetrate in the country from Tuesday evening and likely to continue till September 11,” it said.

Rain/wind-thundershowers are expected in Kashmir, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Lahore, Okara, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Mianwali, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh from Sept 7 to Sept 11 with intermittent gaps.

Similarly, Kohistan, Shangla, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Charsadda, Nowshera, Dir, Chitral, Peshawar, Kohat, Waziristan, Ghizer, Astore, Diamir, Skardu, Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Ghanche and Kharmang are likely to receive rain till Saturday.

Heavy falls are expected in Dir, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Bagh, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Jhelum, Chakwal, Attock, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore and Kasur from September 8 to 10.

“The rainy spell may bring about a significant change to the prevailing very humid and hot weather during the forecast period. A windstorm may damage vulnerable structures and generate urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Lahore between September 8 and 10,” it warned.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2021