RAWALPINDI:
The tragic death of a nine-year-old boy, who drowned after falling into an uncovered storm drain during the first pre-monsoon rains of the season, has exposed serious gaps in flood preparedness and public safety measures in Rawalpindi.
The victim, Wisal, fell into a rainwater drain about 10 feet deep and seven feet wide near Kacha stop on Khalid Bin Waleed Road in Westridge-III area, where the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad meet.
It was washed away by rapidly flowing water during heavy rains. Wisal’s funeral took place on Saturday at his ancestral village in Mohmand Agency, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
According to residents and traders, the gutter, which stretches for almost half a kilometer along a busy market, has no protective railings or concrete cover.
They say motorcyclists and pedestrians frequently fall into the sewers due to the lack of safety barriers, although most escape unscathed when water levels are low. However, during the heavy downpour, the drainage system was flowing at full capacity, leaving little chance of survival for the child.
The latest incident has also raised concerns about emergency response. Rescue teams searched a 500-foot stretch of pipeline using five-foot bamboo poles and cellphone flashlights, apparently lacking essential equipment such as powerful torches, specialized rescue equipment and protective gear, according to sources.
A survey of the surrounding area by The Express PK Press Club found that many manholes remained uncovered, some measuring up to 20 feet deep. Further, officials said none of the city’s 15 seasonal drainage canals had undergone desilting or complete clearance before the onset of the monsoon.
A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed relief agencies had not received adequate funding, machinery or equipment over the past five years, despite repeated requests, warning that similar tragedies could occur unless urgent improvements were made.
In response to this incident and the approach of the monsoon, the 111th Brigade of the Pakistan Army was placed on red alert until 15 August.
An army major will supervise operations from the central flood control room, while military teams equipped with life jackets, high-powered lifeboats, ropes and modern rescue equipment will remain on standby.
Army teams are also expected to inspect vulnerable spots along the 18-kilometre Nullah Lai canal and other seasonal drains next week. Rawalpindi Commissioner Aamir Khattak and Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema will accompany the military representatives during the inspection. The military will continue to monitor identified high-risk areas throughout the flood season.
Besides, five flood relief camps are expected to be established next week as part of the city’s monsoon preparedness plan.
