RAWALPINDI:
The tragic death of a nine-year-old boy, who drowned after falling into an uncovered stormwater drain during the season’s first pre-monsoon rainfall, has exposed serious shortcomings in flood preparedness and public safety measures across Rawalpindi.
The victim, Wisal, fell into a rainwater drain approximately 10 feet deep and seven feet wide near Kacha Stop on Khalid Bin Waleed Road in the Westridge-III area, where the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad meet.
He was swept away by the fast-flowing water during heavy rainfall. Wisal’s funeral was held in his ancestral village in Mohmand Agency, Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Saturday.
According to residents and shopkeepers, the drain, which runs for nearly half a kilometre alongside a busy market, has neither protective railings nor a concrete cover.
They claim motorcyclists and pedestrians frequently fall into the drain because of the lack of safety barriers, although most escape unharmed when water levels are low. During the heavy downpour, however, the drain was flowing at full capacity, leaving the child little chance of survival.
The latest incident has also raised concerns over 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, reportedly lacking essential equipment such as high-powered torches, specialised rescue machinery and protective gear.
A survey of the surrounding area conducted by The Express Tribune found that numerous manholes remained uncovered, with some measuring up to 20 feet in depth. In addition, officials said that none of the city’s 15 seasonal drainage channels had undergone comprehensive desilting or clearance before the onset of the monsoon.
A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that rescue agencies had not received adequate funding, machinery or equipment over the past five years despite repeated requests, warning that similar tragedies could occur unless urgent improvements are made.
In response to the incident and the approaching monsoon season, the 111 Brigade of the Pakistan Army has been placed on red alert until August 15.
An Army major will oversee 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 18-kilometre Nullah Lai and other seasonal drains next week. Rawalpindi Commissioner Aamir Khattak and Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema will accompany military representatives during the inspection. The Army will continue monitoring identified high-risk locations throughout the flood season.
Meanwhile, five flood relief camps are expected to be established next week as part of the city’s monsoon preparedness plan.
