A large number of vehicles are hit in traffic jam on Ravi Road near Grand Iqbal Park on the third day of Basant celebration in the city. Photo: APP
RAWALPINDI:
On Tuesday, heavy rains persisting throughout the day and night paralyzed life in the city and its surroundings, severely disrupting traffic and daily activities.
In the absence of traffic police, the traffic system collapsed with ambulances stuck at major intersections. Claims by the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) about clearing the pipes proved hollow as water had largely accumulated.
Markets remained deserted, with commercial activity effectively suspended, while day laborers in wholesale markets were left without work.
A total of 39 mm of precipitation was recorded across the city. Continued downpours caused leaks at subway stations and along tracks, leaving motorcyclists riding underneath exposed to the rain. Attendance at educational institutions and offices remained low due to weather conditions.
Low-lying areas were flooded, with up to 30 cm of water accumulating in underpasses, including at Committee Chowk and Rahimabad. The ongoing work on the Kutchery Chowk flyover and underpass project was also halted as the excavated areas were filled with rainwater.
The public lighting system was disrupted, while unannounced power cuts of up to six hours per day, coupled with the suspension of gas supplies from 9 p.m. until dawn, further hampered daily life and commercial activity. The roofs of the old judicial buildings of the district courts also began to leak.
Continuous rains, however, led to rising water levels in Rawal, Simly and Khanpur dams, easing concerns over possible water shortage in summer.
Several localities, including Dhoke Elahi Bakhsh, Arya Mohalla, Nadeem Colony, Javed Colony, Fazalabad, Shah Sultan, Shalley Valley, Peoples Colony and Millat Colony, remained waterlogged.
As the weather has become pleasant and the greenery in parks and gardens has been refreshed, there is growing concern that the ongoing rains in the Potohar region may damage ripe wheat crops, with harvesting already underway in some areas.
The heavy rains also washed debris across Nullah Lai and around 15 seasonal streams, providing a natural cleansing effect. However, sanitation work was disrupted and the waste accumulated in the streets released foul odors when mixed with rainwater.
Traffic remained choked intermittently throughout the day due to persistent dark clouds and intense thunderstorms. The rain spell is expected to continue until Wednesday.
