OKARA: The city of Okara received a staggering 180mm rainfall in the past three days.

The Railway Colony and the railway underpass near Mohalla Darus Salam, popularly known as Kirpa Ram Factory, are among the hardest-hit areas.

At the time of reporting on Thursday evening, the rainwater level was dangerously close to touching the roof of the U-turn double-track railway underpass. The underpass is a critical route for the local commuters.

On both north and south sides of the underpass, densely populated localities are already grappling with heavy rainwater. The absence of a proper sewerage system or open drains in this entire area has led to difficulties in disposing of the sewerage water effectively.

The municipal committee authorities used disposal pumps to drain out water from the underpass. However, this led to protests from the residents of the neighboring localities, led by Hasan Taimoor Doula, already struggling with overflowing streets and main roads. The focus on draining water from the railway track raised concerns about the neglect of the surrounding residential areas.

All major city commercial roads, including Katchrry Bazaar, Sadar Bazaar, Tehsil Road, and Dipalpur Road, as well as the main roads of the six main residential blocks, have been submerged in water. The water has turned blackish and emits an unpleasant odor.

The century-old railway colony, comprising more than 70 residential quarters housing low-scale railway employees, faces a dire situation due to the lack of a proper sewerage and drainage system. Being about three feet below its surrounding localities and link roads, the colony becomes a natural catchment for rainwater during the monsoon season.

During the initial heavy rains, the colony’s boundary wall collapsed, allowing water to enter the premises. Philanthropist Fayyaz Zafar managed a disposal pump to drain out the rainwater. However, the continuous downpour caused the water level to rise again, overwhelming their efforts.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2023