The heavy rains weighing twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad during the night, which prompted the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) to emit a high alert and to declare a rain emergency in the middle of the fears of the accumulation of water in the low areas.
According to Wasa Director General, Muhammad Saleem Ashraf, wasa teams equipped with heavy machines have been deployed in low areas. He said the machines had immediately been sent to the Chowk Underpass and Murrier Road Committee as soon as the rain has started to ensure effective drainage.
According to data from the meteorological department, Saidpur received the highest precipitation with 80 mm recorded, followed by 40 mm at PMD, from 20 mm to Shamsabad and 15 mm in Pirwadhai.
Wasa MD added that in the watershed of Nullah Lai, especially in Saidpur, 80 mm of rain were recorded in just one hour. The water level in Nullah Lai is monitored continuously and, for the moment, the flow remains normal.
Read: The NDMA issues a new alert for heavy rains, storms across the country
In Katarian, the water level in Nullah Lai passed 11 feet, while he reached 5 feet on the Gawalmandi deck. However, after the rain stopped, the water level fell at 5 feet.
The head of the WASA assured that the ministry is fully ready to manage any potential urgency and is in constant coordination with all the agencies concerned.
Citizens were advised to unnecessarily avoid the low zones and immediately contact the Wasa assistance line in an emergency.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority, the sudden floods and strong precipitation killed 64 people and injured 117 nationally in last week.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was the worst blow, with 23 deaths, including 10 children. In Punjab, 21 people lost their lives, while Sindh and Balutchistan reported 15 and 5 deaths respectively.
