With repeated alerts from the Meteorological Department and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warning of above-normal rainfall this monsoon season, anxiety is rising among citizens across the country.
Particularly in Islamabad, the memories of the catastrophic flooding in Sector E-11 three years ago still linger, intensifying fears of a repeat scenario.
The predicted torrential downpours have heightened concerns, especially in Sector E-11, where the 2021 floods claimed two lives and caused financial damages running into crores of rupees.
The primary cause of the devastation was illegal constructions obstructing natural drainage systems, leading to severe flooding.
Residents blame government institutions for failing to curb these illegal activities, which exacerbated the flooding.
With monsoon rains at their peak, the citizens of Islamabad are increasingly worried about the alerts from the Meteorological Department and NDMA. Many recall the harrowing floods of 2021 and fear a repeat if adequate measures are not enforced.
To manage the situation better, the city administration has divided Islamabad into urban and rural sections and undertaken pre-monsoon efforts to clean drains and prepare dewatering pumps.
The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) director stated that teams are on standby with necessary equipment and that emergency patrolling has been initiated.
However, citizens continue to criticize the authorities for allowing illegal constructions that worsen flooding. A resident told SAMAA TV, “The rainwater flowing from the mountains and through E-11 has always been an issue. The CDA should have intervened, but they didn’t as housing societies keep narrowing the drains and making plots.”
Despite the flooding risks, residents feel that no preventive measures have been taken, accusing the Capital Development Authority (CDA) of collecting taxes without addressing the real issues.
The CDA has acknowledged that some developers of private housing schemes have indeed encroached upon storm drains, causing blockages. These “china cuttings” have been a significant factor in the recurrent flooding problems.
As weather conditions rapidly change, citizens are preparing for potential floods, hoping that this time, the lessons from the past will lead to better management and prevention.
