Islamabad :
Heavy rains inundated the federal capital Islamabad and adjoining Rawalpindi, flooding roads and low-lying areas, flooding rivers and inundating homes, killing two people.
The torrential rains hit the E-11 area of Islamabad the hardest, with water seeping into homes and flooding, damaging dozens of vehicles.
According to police officials, Sector E-11 is a sector consisting of housing societies and the Patron Enchef Secretary Home of the Police Foundation is himself here, where the flood situation has arisen due to poor performance of the society management.
Officials said that the society administration did not have any machinery to deal with the flood situation. Later, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) administration worked in Sector E-11 to evacuate the flood water on an emergency basis.
Authorities say a mother and son from a family living in the basement of a house in Sector E-11 died of flooding.
It may be recalled that early in the morning Deputy Commissioner Islamabad said in a tweet that due to cloud burst in Islamabad floods have occurred in different areas, teams are clearing drains / roads, hopefully we will clear everything in an hour. ۔
However, in a statement, the Meteorological Department denied the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad’s claim that the weather forecast had been issued on July 26. It was more than normal rainfall which could not be termed as cloud burst.
On the other hand, in view of the situation arising after the rains, the CDA in several tweets kept informing about the relief operations and the process of clearing the roads. In a Twitter message, the CDA said that Peshawar Mor Interchange and Sri Several places on Nagar Highway have been cleared.
In view of the rains, Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed all concerned agencies, including the National Disaster Management Authority, to remain on high alert with immediate and emergency response.
In a Twitter message, he also directed the citizens to remain alert and take special precautionary measures due to heavy monsoon rains.
After heavy rains in Islamabad, the water level in Rawal Dam is rising rapidly while the storage capacity has become very low. According to the administration, the storage capacity of the dam is 1752 feet while at present the water level is 1749 feet. Therefore, spillways will be opened when the water reaches 1750 feet.
The administration said the water level had risen by one foot and two inches in the last 24 hours due to rains.
On the other hand, the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad directed the people living along the Korang and Sawan rivers to stay away from the river bank.
He said that spillways (doors) of Rawal Dam are being opened, announcements have also been made from mosques, section 144 is applicable for bathing in the river but rescue and management teams are present for timely response.
Due to the rains, a huge water flood from Islamabad entered Rawalpindi due to which danger sirens were sounded in Gawal Mandi and other low lying areas and rescue teams were also called.
According to the Flood Control Room, the water level in Nala Lei is constantly rising, which threatens to inundate the low-lying areas. In view of the situation, Pakistan Army and Army personnel have been called in.
On the other hand, Federal Minister for Home Affairs Sheikh Rashid, who hails from Rawalpindi, reached Gawal Mandi Bridge to inspect the flood in Nala Lei where MD Wasa Raja Shaukat, Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi briefed Sheikh Rashid.
Talking to media on the occasion, he said that Nala Lei kills 200 people every twenty years. He had decided to start work twenty years ago which has not started yet.
He said that Imran Khan and Chief Minister Punjab have ordered to build Nespak at low cost which would improve the slums and work on it would start in 90 days.
Sheikh Rashid said that Nala Lai is the only problem of Rawalpindi which was started with a plan of Rs 26 billion but now its cost has reached Rs 90 billion.
He said that 7 old drains of Islamabad are closed which people have occupied and built but repairing the drain is my life’s mission.
Sheikh Rashid said that wherever there is water in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, all administrative machinery including Pakistan Army and WASA are on alert.
