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RAWALPINDI, Jul 30 (APP): As the fifth spell of monsoon rains begun in Rawalpindi in the wee hours of Wednesday, Punjab Minister for Housing and Urban Development Punjab Bilal Yasin directed the Water and Sanitation Agency (Punjab) to be on high alert.
The water level in Nullah Leh at Katarian was recorded at 10 feet and Gawalmandi bridge at 6 feet as a total of more than 80 mm of rain was recorded in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, 90 mm rain was recorded at Saidpur, 30 mm at Golra, 32 mm at Bokra, 55 mm at PMD, 80 mm at Shamsabad, 28 mm at Kachhari, 52 mm at Pirwadhai, 78 mm at Katarian and 45 mm at Gawalmandi.
Minister Bilal Yasin, in his directive to the Director General of WASA Punjab, said the WASA staff should keep the machinery active for drainage even during night hours.
He further instructed that due to rain in Rawalpindi, the water level in Nullah Leh should be continuously monitored, and staff should be deployed for timely drainage from low-lying areas.
He directed the WASA officials to ensure continuous coordination with all institutions to deal with any emergency situation.
Meanwhile, WASA Rawalpindi Managing Director Muhammad Saleem Ashraf said that the Agency was on high alert with rain emergency imposed on the PMD’s prediction of heavy rains..
On the instructions of Housing Minister Bilal Yasin and Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal, the staff and heavy machinery had been deployed in low-lying areas for timely drainage of water, he added.
The Nullah Leh and other drains across the city were being continuously monitored, he said, adding they were ready to deal with any kind of emergency situation.