Rawalpindi: Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Salman Ghani on Friday directed all relevant departments to remain alert to protect the lives and property of citizens during the ongoing monsoon spell, as intermittent rain continued across Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The commissioner instructed deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners to maintain continuous field monitoring and ensure immediate response during and after rainfall.
He directed all departments to ensure the timely drainage of rainwater from roads, streets and low-lying areas to minimise inconvenience to the public. He also ordered enhanced surveillance of Nullah Lai and other stormwater drains and called for strengthened safety arrangements at vulnerable locations.
Salman urged residents of low-lying areas to adopt precautionary measures and follow official advisories. He also advised citizens to stay away from electricity poles and broken power lines to avoid the risk of electrocution, avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rain, and remain updated on weather conditions.
He further appealed to parents to prevent children from going near rivers, rainwater channels and open manholes during the monsoon.
According to official rainfall data, 103 millimetres of rain was recorded at Rawalpindi Kutchery, 68 at Saidpur, 52 mm at Golra, 42 mm at Bokra, 65 mm at the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), 73 mm at Shamsabad, 60 mm at Pirwadhai and 59 mm at New Katarian.
Meanwhile, civic agencies remained on high alert as the rain continued across the twin cities.
Managing Director Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Rawalpindi Azizullah Khan said WASA personnel and heavy machinery had been deployed in low-lying areas, including Liaquat Bagh, Committee Chowk Underpass, Murree Road and Sadiqabad, to ensure uninterrupted drainage.
He said Nullah Lai was under continuous monitoring and the water flow remained normal.
Khan said field officers were personally supervising drainage operations. He also urged citizens not to throw garbage into drains or sewer lines and not to remove manhole covers to ensure the smooth flow of rainwater.
The Suthra Punjab Agency(SPA) also continued drain cleaning, waste collection, waste lifting and manual sweeping despite the rain to prevent waterlogging in vulnerable areas.
The agency said sanitation workers remained deployed across the city, while awareness campaigns were conducted in residential neighbourhoods and markets, urging citizens not to dump garbage or construction debris into drains and to dispose of waste through designated containers or sanitation workers.
Managing Director SPA Rawalpindi Rana Sajid Safdar said maintaining cleanliness during the monsoon remained the agency’s top priority.
He said sanitation workers were ensuring timely drainage in low-lying areas, while the Clean Punjab Helpline 1139 enabled citizens to register sanitation-related complaints without delay.
Media Coordinator Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi Muhammad Usman Gujar said rescue personnel had been deployed along Nullah Lai and in low-lying areas, including Katarian and Gawalmandi, and would remain on duty throughout the rainy spell.
He advised the public to exercise caution during the monsoon, urging parents not to allow children near Nullah Lai or electricity poles during rainfall, motorists to drive carefully, residents to avoid weak structures, flooded areas, rivers and streams, and tourists to avoid travelling to vulnerable destinations during periods of heavy rain and possible cloudbursts. He urged citizens to contact the Rescue 1122 helpline immediately in case of any emergency.