With the forecast of more rains in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the civic authorities have put their officers on high-alert while directing them to remain on duty to meet any eventuality in the case of flooding in Leh Nullah.
District Coordination Officer (DCO) Rawalpindi Saqib Zafar had directed the District Officer (DO) Solid Waste Management Dr. Mazhar Azeem, DCG Saif Anwar Cheema, DO of Department of Civil Defense Syed Tamkeen Raza and Rescue 1122 to collect information about the problems of the residents of the area.
The Executive District Officer (EDO) Municipal Services told the DCO that due to the recent rains, the nullah had overflowed but did not enter into residential houses. Besides, officials of the municipal services and other departments had been very busy in helping the people, he added.
Meanwhile, on the directives of the Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Aamir Ali Ahmed, the civic authorities had alerted the departments concerned to deal with any flood like situation due to possible rains in the next couple of days and to save the residents from any untoward situation. Rescue and relief teams had also been formed to cope with any emergency in the low laying areas of the city. The administrations of Rawal and Simly dams, the district health department, the civil defense, the traffic police and the assistant commissioners had been directed to visit the low laying areas and to ensure all safety measures were in place.
Dengue threat: Health experts fear epidemic in rainy season: After the recent rains in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, health experts fear the spread of dengue epidemic as the upcoming few weeks are important for the nourishment of dengue virus.
According to details, 15 dengue infected persons were reported before the rainy spell in the twin cities, while eight were still undergoing treatment. The health experts said that these days were critical and crucial for the dengue larvae and the officers concerned should go into the fields to supervise the campaign and monitor the field teams to make the ongoing drive against dengue successful. However, the risk of dengue outbreak would be very low after the 25th of October, they added.
Accumulated rain water ‘stinks’, becomes traffic hurdle: Sewerage water accumulated in different areas of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi has become a cause of annoyance not just for pedestrians but also for the smooth flow of vehicular traffic.
The dirty smell in the surrounding areas had made life miserable for the passers-by as the authorities concerned seemed least interested in taking any remedial steps.