Rawalpindi yet to set up flood camps as monsoon threat looms

ISLAMABAD: Flood relief camps have not yet been established in Rawalpindi despite the onset of the flood season, even as the Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall during the current week and warned of possible flooding in the city.

Gawalmandi Bridge has again been informally designated as the point from where officials and visitors would monitor the situation during any flood emergency. In the event of flooding in Leh Nullah and other parts of Rawalpindi, ministers, lawmakers, advisers and other visitors are expected to inspect conditions from the bridge rather than travel to low-lying neighbourhoods. A decision has also been taken to deploy VVIP security at the bridge.

Preparedness steps remain incomplete

Two low-level floods during the pre-monsoon period had already highlighted the risk, but Civil Defence has still not set up rescue warden posts in vulnerable low-lying localities. The annual full-dress rescue drills, usually held at Rawal Dam between June 1 and June 15 to train personnel from all relevant departments in flood response, have also not started.

Each year by June 15, six flood relief camps are set up at Islamia School No. 1, Islamia School No. 4, Government Girls Schools in New Katarian, Khayaban-i-Sir Syed and Bhosa Godam, and Gawalmandi Girls College. This year, however, no camps have been established at any of these locations. Civil Defence has likewise not opened its temporary warden posts in low-lying areas.

The central flood control room is also not yet fully operational, while the district administration has still not convened a joint meeting of cantonment boards, relevant departments and officials of the 111 Brigade to finalise flood preparedness, even though June is drawing to a close.

Desilting work lags behind schedule

Desilting of the 18-kilometre Leh Nullah and its 15 seasonal drains was supposed to be completed by June 30, but less than 30 per cent of the work has been finished. Cleaning has only been carried out near Gawalmandi Bridge and Dhoke Ratta Bridge.

The waste removed during desilting has been dumped along the banks of Leh Nullah, forming heaps said to be nearly 30 feet high. Wind and rain are washing the garbage back into the drain. Heavy machinery has also not yet been deployed for the cleaning of Leh Nullah and the 15 seasonal drains.

Officials said an important planning meeting on flood preparedness would be held at the deputy commissioner's office this week, while flood relief camps are expected to be set up in the first week of July.