TAXILA: Torrential rains followed by flash floods wreaked havoc on the infrastructure of Attock city, causing massive urban flooding and widespread power outages.

The rains resulted in urban flooding in several parts of the city with rainwater mixed with filth and garbage from overflowing drains even entering houses and shops in some areas, destroying the goods inside.

Although no loss of life due to the rains or floods was reported from any part of the district, a spokesman for the district emergency services, Aamir Nawaz, said 18 people were evacuated from different parts of the city who were stranded after rainwater accumulated in their areas.

The worst affected areas included Mirza, Shakardara, Kamra, Tariqabad and Jatial where dozens of houses were submerged in rainwater. The house of PTI district president Qazi Ahmed Akbar was also damaged as rainwater flooded in the area causing damages to vehicles and buildings.

The power supply and telephone services were also disturbed in these areas as the rainwater damaged infrastructure of Iesco and PTCL.

A resident of Mirza, Shabbir Hussain, told this reporter that roads, streets and homes were flooded with sewage as rainfall wreaked havoc in the city.

Another resident of Shakardara, Syed Ali said standing water in his home damaged goods and valuable items. He urged the government to provide them relief.

PTI leader Syed Khawar Bukhari said rainwater had accumulated everywhere in the Attock city, especially in urban areas due to the outdated sewerage system.

Member Punjab Assembly Syed Yawar Bukhari, former special assistant to prime Minister Ameen Aslam Khan and deputy commissioner Mohammad Zulqurnain visited the affected areas and monitored the situation.

Talking to newsmen, the MPA expressed his concern over the poor and faulty sewerage system. He demanded formation of an independent inquiry against officials of the public health engineering and the district government for execution of faulty projects which led to losses worth millions of rupees to the locals of Mirza.

He also called upon the district government to announce compensation for the affected dwellers of the area.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2022