GUJRAT: Coping with urban flooding due to the recent heavy rain in Sialkot remained a top challenge for the local administration for the second consecutive day on Thursday even after more than 36 hours of rain.

The main city areas remained flooded due to overflowing three storm water drains passing through the city. When water started receding in these drains on Thursday night, it eased pressure on urban flooding as well.

Sialkot DC Saba Asghar Ali extended the closure of educational institutions in the district for another couple of days on Friday and Saturday. The city’s Nekupura, Shahbazpura, Dramman Wala Chowk, Cantt and other adjoining localities remained submerged with water throughout the day on Thursday, causing a great deal of inconvenience to the motorists and citizens.

Meanwhile, the MD WASA in Sialkot Abu Bakar Imran was suspended by the Punjab government on the charges of negligence to tackle the urban flooding.

The Punjab housing and urban development secretary issued the notification of his suspension whereas the additional charge of MD WASA was given to Faisal Shahzad, chief officer of Sialkot district council.

Official sources said the MD WASA had been made a scapegoat to save the skin of other responsible authorities since the agency was launched in Sialkot during the current month and it lacked resources to cope with the daunting task of chronic urban flooding issues of Sialkot.

The Sialkot DC along with the officials of civic agencies visited affected areas on Thursday on a truck and inspected the situation of drains.

Talking to media, he said 512 millimeter rainfall in Sialkot was unprecedented. .

In Wazirabad city, the urban flooding caused by Palkhu eased on Thursday. However, adjoining rural localities of Sohdra remained submerged.

Gujranwala DC Naveed Ahmed who also holds the additional charge of Wazirabad DC, spent the whole day in Wazirabad and visited the affected areas along the bank of Palkhu.

Rescue officials also remained busy in the areas affected by the urban flooding in Wazirabad.

In Gujrat city, the situation became normal on Thursday after the main city roads were cleared of water.

Zahoor Elahi cricket stadium and it’s market as well as small portion of Jalalpur Jattan road remained submerged throughout the day.

NAROWAL: Sialkot DC Saba Asghar Ali said 11 people were killed due to floods and rain in Sialkot during the last three days.

She said that district administration, rescue 1122, police and army were responding immediately to rescue flood victims.

The DC said that flood relief camps have been set up in all four tehsils for the flood victims.

She said that the relief camps contain housing, food, animal fodder and medicines.

According to the Irrigation Department, a bridge on Sialkot Pasrur Road has been damaged.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2025