Cloudburst Sweeps Islamabad, Deluges Rawalpindi as Nullah Leh Boils
Pakistan Metrological Department said 330 millimeter rain has been recorded in the twin cities while the water level in Nullah Leh rose up to 21 feet
The cloudburst in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Tuesday brought widespread destruction and Sector E-11 of the federal capital was flooded while at least 9 low-lying areas of Rawalpindi were also deluged as Nullah Leh overflowed.
Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD) said 330 millimeter (mm) rain has been recorded in Islamabad and Rawalpindi due to cloudburst.
The video footage showed parked vehicles sweeping away by rainwater while dozens sunk into it. The water level in Nullah Leh rose up to 21 feet and emergency sirens went off.
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It is still raining intermittently in the twin cities and the situation is likely to worsen.
Rescue 1122 and Pakistan Army divers rescued the people and boats were used to transport stranded ones to safer sites.
Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) Managing Director (MD) Raja Shaukat said that a flood of 40,000 cusecs passed through Nullah Leh owing to which it overflowed.
He added that Rawal Dam has also filled to the brim and the flood was still passing through Soan River.
At least 9 areas of Rawalpindi including Hazara Colony, Moti Mahal, Ratta Amral, IJP Road, Arya Neighborhood, Javed Colony, etc have been deluged by rainwater.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the army personnel are assisting the administration in the rescue operation. The army contingents have arrived at the flood-hit sites.
It added that an emergency plan has been formulated to cope with any emergency situation.
Further, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, who hails from Rawalpindi, has visited Nullah Leh.
He said that dredging of Nullah Leh saved the city from flooding. The minister added that the watercourse claims around 200 lives after every two decades.
Sheikh Rasheed told that seven storm drains of Islamabad have been blocked due to encroachments.
He added that the Nullah Leh Expressway Project was initiated 20 years ago but it has not been completed yet and its completion is the only mission of his life.
