RAWALPINDI: Heavy rain lashed the twin cities on Sunday, inundating low-lying areas in Rawalpindi.

A five-year-old girl also drowned in a seasonal nullah while playing along its bank.

The rain started on Sunday night and continued till the morning varying in intensity from moderate to heavy.

The rain raised the water level in Leh Nullah but it did not overflow into the nearby areas.

The Meteorological Department recorded 111mm rain at Chaklala, 39mm at Shamsabad in Rawalpindi, 14mmrainat the old airport, 21mm at Saidpur, 55mm at Bokra and 26mm at Golra in Islamabad.

According to a Met Office official, strong monsoon currents are penetrating the upper and central parts of the country and partly cloudy weather with rain/wind/thundershower (with isolated heavy falls) was expected in Islamabad on Monday.

Meanwhile, a five-year-old girl drowned in a seasonal nullah in Habib Colony near Usman Ghani Mosque.

According to Rescue 1122, the girl slipped into the nullah while playing in the rain. Rescuers recovered the body and shifted it to Railway Hospital.

Rescue 1122 officials said some milch animals in Dhoke Ratta were also trapped in the overflowing nullah but locals and rescuers saved them.

Water also entered houses located in the low-lying areas, adding to the miseries of the residents.

The most affected areas were Lane No 4, Nadeem Colony, Pirwadhai, Dhoke Dalal, Habib Colony, Afshan Colony, Fauji Colony, Arya Mohallah, Mohanpura and Dhoke Ratta.

Water also inundated the flyovers at Committee Chowk and Pirwadhai Mor, making them no-go zones for traffic.

Rainwater entered the new building of the District Headquarters Hospital which was later drained out by the hospital staff.

When contacted, Wasa Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood said water accumulated in some areas but the agency managed to clear it within an hour.

He said the water level in Leh Nullah remained at five feet at Gawalmandi and seven feet at Kattarian.

Wasa had already imposed emergency and deputed machinery in low-lying areas to drain out water in case of heavy rains, he said.

“The worst affected areas were Airport Road, Committee Chowk, Liaquat Bagh, Dhoke Khabba, Sadiqabad, Satellite Town, Jamia Masjid Road and Murree Road but rainwater was drained out in the afternoon,” he added.

He said due to the dredging of Leh Nullah, water level did not increase to the dangerous level.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ali visited Leh Nullah and inspected the water level.

The deputy commissioner directed the officials concerned to monitor those dumping building waste into the nullah and take legal action against them in case of violation.

He said all the concerned departments, officers and staff should perform their duties diligently and steps should be taken for timely draining of rainwater from the low-lying areas.

He said all officers and staff of Wasa should be present in the field, adding that Wasa should also resolve all grievances of the citizens in a timely manner.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2021