RAWALPINDI:
The tragic death of a nine-year-old boy, who drowned after falling into an uncovered stormwater drain during the first pre-monsoon rains of the season, has highlighted serious shortcomings in flood preparedness and public safety measures in Rawalpindi.
The victim, Wisal, fell into a rainwater drain about 10 feet deep and seven feet wide near Kacha stop on Khalid Bin Waleed Road in Westridge-III area, where the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad meet.
He was swept away by fast-flowing water during a heavy rain. Wisal’s funeral was held on Saturday at his ancestral village in Mohmand Agency, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
According to residents and merchants, the drain, which runs for almost half a kilometer next to a busy market, has no protective railings or concrete lining.
They claim motorcyclists and pedestrians frequently fall into the drain due to the lack of safety barriers, although most escape unharmed when water levels are low. However, during the heavy rain, the drainage was flowing at full capacity, leaving the boy little chance of survival.
The latest incident has also raised concerns about the emergency response. According to sources, rescue teams searched a 500-foot stretch of the drain using five-foot bamboo poles and mobile phone flashlights, and were reportedly lacking essential equipment such as high-powered flashlights, specialized rescue machinery and protective gear.
A survey of the surrounding area by The Express PAkGazette found that numerous manholes remained uncovered, some measuring up to 20 feet deep. Additionally, officials said none of the city’s 15 seasonal drainage canals had undergone comprehensive cleaning or desilting before the onset of the monsoon.
A senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said rescue agencies had not received adequate funding, machinery or equipment for the past five years despite repeated requests, and warned that similar tragedies could occur unless urgent improvements are made.
In response to the incident and the approaching monsoon season, the Pakistan Army’s 111 Brigade has been placed on red alert until August 15.
An army major will supervise the operations from the Central Flood Control Room, while military teams equipped with life jackets, high-powered rescue boats, ropes and modern rescue equipment will remain on standby.
Army teams are also scheduled to inspect vulnerable locations along the 18km Nullah Lai and other seasonal drainages next week. Rawalpindi Commissioner Aamir Khattak and Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema will accompany the military representatives during the inspection. The Army will continue to monitor identified high-risk locations during the flood season.
Meanwhile, five flood relief camps are expected to be set up next week as part of the city’s monsoon preparedness plan.
