ISLAMABAD: A mother and her son were killed in Islamabad on Wednesday as several neighbourhoods of the capital experienced urban flooding after a cloudburst caused heavy rainfall.
Footage circulating on social media showed flood water sweeping away cars in sectors E-11 and D-12.
122 mm rain recorded in Islamabad so far. E11 & D12 ISB under urban flooding. pic.twitter.com/K3yhXivlSt
— Khan (@ChaaRli001) July 28, 2021
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat attributed the flash flood to a cloudburst and urged the public to “cooperate and restrict unnecessary movements”.
Cloudburst in Islamabad has caused flooding in various areas. Teams are clearing nullahs/roads. Hopefully we will be able to clear everything in an hour. Everyone is requested to plz cooperate and restricted unnecessary movement for next 2 hours.
— Office of Deputy Commissioner Islamabad (@dcislamabad) July 28, 2021
Shafqaat further said the spillways of Rawal Dam were being opened as he appealed to the public to stay away from the riverbanks of the Korang and Soan rivers.
Senior officials blamed the flooding on “poor management,” stressing that the Capital Development Authority was not responsible for E-11, which is part of a private housing society.
In a statement, Pakistans Meteorological Department said Islamabad and its surrounding areas had received a “heavy downpour of monsoon rainfall” between 5:00 am and 6:30 am.
It said that a minimum of 15 millimetres and a maximum of 123 millimetres of rainfall had been recorded.
Troops have been deployed in Rawalpindi after the local government sought the military’s help following incessant rains that triggered a high flood in Nullah Lai.
Section 144 (power to issue order absolute at once in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) was imposed on bathing in rivers, the deputy commissioner said, adding that rescue and management teams were present to handle the situation.
PM puts NDMA on high alert:
Prime Minister Imran Khan took notice of the situation and cautioned citizens to take “special care” due to the heavy monsoon rains.
“I have also directed all the relevant response agencies including [the] NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) to be on high alert with ready and rapid emergency response actions.,” he tweeted.
On the other hand, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said that the army and other local authorities are present in the federal capital to deal with the situation.
“[The] army is alert, Wasa (Water and Sanitation Agency) is alert […] the whole administration is on duty,” he said.
He made those remarks in a conversation with media personnel during his visit to Leh Nullah.
