ISLAMABAD: At least 11 people were killed and five others were injured as extremely heavy rainfall lashed the twin cities on Wednesday, inundating several localities and submerging main thoroughfares.
According to eyewitnesses, a large number of workers engaged in the construction of the Golra Mor underpass spent the night in a tent set up next to the affected wall.
In the morning following heavy rainfall, the wall adjacent to the tent suddenly collapsed and the labourers were buried under the debris.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Rescue and other relief agencies are participating in the rescue operation. All the deceased were labourers who belonged to different areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Punjab.
They were identified as Muhammad Shoaib, Zahid, Karim, Noor Muhammad, Kaleemullah, Jalal Deen, Akbarzada, Israfel, Nauman, Muhammad Khalid, Yasin, Farooq, Muhammad Shakeel, Inayat, Rehman and Mualim Khan.
Islamabad’s police station has registered the incident report and started an investigation.
Flood alert
Currently, an estimated 200mm of rain has been recorded in many areas, and Nullah Leh is also on flood alert.
Due to heavy rain in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi issued necessary instructions to Rescue 1122, Pakistan Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and the administration.
He also ordered immediate drainage of water in low-lying areas of Rawalpindi due to heavy rain.
“The administration and related institutions should immediately use all resources for drainage in the low-lying areas,” added Naqvi.
The caretaker chief minister also said that actions should be taken on an emergency basis for the drainage of rainwater and directed officers of the administration and related institutions to remain in the field until the drainage work is completed.
“All precautionary measures should be taken in view of the danger of flooding in the rivers,” he said.
Naqvi also directed relevant authorities to continuously monitor the situation of Nullah Leh and also directed them to submit a report to the CM’s office as soon as the drainage work is complete.
‘40 feeders trip’
Heavy rain continues in all the operational circles of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), the organisation said in a statement.
The statement stated that due to rain, more than 40 feeders tripped, adding that affected feeders include Lohi Bhir, F-7 One, Upper Topa, Gulberg 5, Service Road, Radio Park, Jand City and Fateh Jang.
“Electricity supply of A Block Jhangi, Dhok Syedan, Haso Gharib Wal, Lal Kurti, Lalazar and Morgan Race Course was also affected,” IESCO added.
The company said that operation teams are busy restoring power to the affected feeders, adding that the field staff is facing difficulties in power restoration operations due to rain.
“Consumers should stay away from power lines, poles, wires and other installations during rain,” IESCO said.
The company also warned citizens against touching “electrical appliances with wet hands or bare feet” and requested them to “fix electrical wiring to protect against personal and property damage caused by a shot circuit”.
