RAWALPINDI:
After heavy pre-monsoon rains and flooding in the areas surrounding the under-construction Daducha Dam, the district administration breached the dam to release excess rainwater.
As a result, water receded from nearby residential areas, offering much-needed relief to local residents.
On the orders of the deputy commissioner, Rescue 1122 teams have been deployed in the area until the end of the rainy season.
The three-day spell of rain caused the roofs of four houses and five livestock shelters to collapse. Fortunately, there were no casualties. After the water receded, up to a foot of mud was left inside homes.
Residents also reported a surge in dead rodents, snakes, and mongooses, prompting fears of disease outbreaks.
Many residents have begun cleaning their homes and animal shelters on their own and have demanded immediate health team deployments to carry out disinfectant spraying.
The opening of blocked routes is also underway, with accumulated mud being cleared. Due to ongoing rains, residents from three of the most affected villagesBharwala, Khanpur, and Mohra Faizullahhave evacuated.
Livestock shelters were also abandoned due to flooding. The Daducha Dam, located 25 kilometres from Rawalpindi, overflowed after intense rainfall, affecting these villages.
Residents spent the night on rooftops to save their lives, and property damage was reported.
Locals, including Ajmal Jamshed, Abdul Rauf, Nasir Kayani, and Rab Nawaz, have called for the affected villages to be granted model village status to ensure long-term solutions.
The communities rely on agriculture and livestock for their livelihood, with ample grazing lands and home-based poultry farming systems.
With the monsoon season still underway, residents have begun relocating their valuable belongings.
Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, whose constituency includes this area, has accepted an invitation to visit. Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqar Cheema has assigned Assistant Commissioner Sadar Hakim Khan to monitor the area on a regular basis.
The breach created in the dam will remain open throughout the monsoon season to prevent future accumulation of floodwater.
