Building collapse sparks evacuation drive
Warning notices have been issued to residents living in and around these fragile structures, as well as to those residing along the 22-kilometer-long Nullah Leh and 15 seasonal stormwater drains. These areas are prone to flooding, and the pre-monsoon rains have already submerged up to 70% of the city under three feet of water.
Authorities have announced that if any building collapses, FIRs (First Information Reports) will be filed against its occupants. Legal action will also be taken against owners, tenants, and residents who fail to comply with the evacuation notices.
Despite spending Rs80 million on cleaning Nullah Leh and Rs60m on clearing storm drains, floodwaters have still entered homes and shops in low-lying areas, causing losses worth millions of rupees. In response, the Chief Officer of the RMC has launched a public awareness campaign, warning of severe legal consequences for families refusing to vacate dangerous buildings.
Technical assistance is being offered to residents for building repairs. Furthermore, notices have been issued to evacuate all settlements located along Nullah Leh and storm drains. Encroachments, including animal shelters, must be removed immediately.
The ETPB has also issued final notices to tenants occupying around 250 properties — buildings, plazas, and shops — asking them to vacate leaking and structurally unsound premises.
These century-old and older buildings are primarily located in Rawalpindi's old city areas, including Mohalla Shah Chan Chiragh, Pul Shah Nazar Dewan, Mohalla Niyarian, Bohar Bazaar, Bhabi Bhara Bazaar
Raja Bazaar, Trunk Bazaar, Moti Bazaar, areas around Lal Haveli, Purana Qila, Ghazni Road, Bagh Sardaran, Kartarpura, Angatpura, Sarafa Bazaar
Landa Bazaar, Narankari Bazaar, Kalan Bazaar, Mochi Bazaar, Sarai Mughal, both sides of Jamia Masjid Road, Tyre Bazaar, Chitian Hattian, Teli Mohalla, Ganjmandi, and Gawalmandi.
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Express Tribune
16 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Building collapse sparks evacuation drive
Following the collapse of a dilapidated and vacant building in Bohar Bazaar owing to heavy rainfall, the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) have launched a city-wide emergency operation, declaring over 200 multi-storey buildings, aged between 100 to 150 years and in a state of disrepair, dangerous and ordering to be vacated immediately. Warning notices have been issued to residents living in and around these fragile structures, as well as to those residing along the 22-kilometer-long Nullah Leh and 15 seasonal stormwater drains. These areas are prone to flooding, and the pre-monsoon rains have already submerged up to 70% of the city under three feet of water. Authorities have announced that if any building collapses, FIRs (First Information Reports) will be filed against its occupants. Legal action will also be taken against owners, tenants, and residents who fail to comply with the evacuation notices. Despite spending Rs80 million on cleaning Nullah Leh and Rs60m on clearing storm drains, floodwaters have still entered homes and shops in low-lying areas, causing losses worth millions of rupees. In response, the Chief Officer of the RMC has launched a public awareness campaign, warning of severe legal consequences for families refusing to vacate dangerous buildings. Technical assistance is being offered to residents for building repairs. Furthermore, notices have been issued to evacuate all settlements located along Nullah Leh and storm drains. Encroachments, including animal shelters, must be removed immediately. The ETPB has also issued final notices to tenants occupying around 250 properties — buildings, plazas, and shops — asking them to vacate leaking and structurally unsound premises. These century-old and older buildings are primarily located in Rawalpindi's old city areas, including Mohalla Shah Chan Chiragh, Pul Shah Nazar Dewan, Mohalla Niyarian, Bohar Bazaar, Bhabi Bhara Bazaar Raja Bazaar, Trunk Bazaar, Moti Bazaar, areas around Lal Haveli, Purana Qila, Ghazni Road, Bagh Sardaran, Kartarpura, Angatpura, Sarafa Bazaar Landa Bazaar, Narankari Bazaar, Kalan Bazaar, Mochi Bazaar, Sarai Mughal, both sides of Jamia Masjid Road, Tyre Bazaar, Chitian Hattian, Teli Mohalla, Ganjmandi, and Gawalmandi.
Express Tribune
23-06-2025
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Pindi braces for monsoon flooding
With the onset of the pre-monsoon season, the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC), Rawalpindi District Council, cantonment boards, and the Evacuee Trust Property Board have issued final red noticessome for the second timeordering the evacuation of 285 multi-storey buildings across the district that are over 100 years old and prone to leaking during rainfall. Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hasan Waqar Cheema has imposed a ban on dumping garbage, building material, and other waste into the 22-km-long Nullah Leh and 15 stormwater drains. Station House Officers (SHOs) of area police stations have been directed to register cases against violators. Following directives from the district administration, residents of low-lying areas along Nullah Leh have started moving valuablesjewelry, refrigerators, sofas, and other household itemsto safer locations. Some families have already begun temporary relocation. To deal with potential flooding, the Civil Defence Department, District Administration, and the 111 Brigade have decided to conduct joint full-dress rehearsals next week. These drills will be carried out in low-lying areas near Rawal Dam, including Nadeem Colony and Javed Colony, and will involve Civil Defence, police, and Rescue 1122. The Meteorological Department's forecast for pre-monsoon rains next week has caused concern among residents living near the stormwater channels. Fifteen temporary Civil Defence warden posts have been activated in these areas. Every year, heavy rains during the monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons cause widespread destruction in Rawalpindi, affecting about 70 per cent of the city's population and commercial areas. The municipal corporation and the Evacuee Trust Property Board have ordered the evacuation and repair of all dilapidated historical buildingsdating back to British and Hindu erasin the inner city. According to the chief officer of the municipal corporation, strict notices have been issued to tenants and owners of these buildings due to the risk of collapse during rainfall. The Evacuee Trust Property Board has also served evacuation noticeseffective until June 30to tenants of both commercial and domestic properties in Raja Bazaar, Sarafa Bazaar, Purana Qila, Bagh Sardaran, Dingi Khoi, Shah Chan Chiragh, Banni Mohalla, Jhanda Mohalla, Jamia Masjid Road, Moti Bazaar, and Trunk Bazaar. These properties, once owned by Hindus and Sikhs, are structurally unsound and overdue for repairs. The district council has warned building owners that structures not vacated will be demolished. Three tenants have challenged the notices in court. The court has issued notices to the district council and the chief officer of the municipal corporation to submit responses. District Civil Defence Officer Talib Hussain confirmed preparations are complete for the full-dress rehearsal in Javed Colony and Nadeem Colony. The flood season in Rawalpindi has been officially declared from July 1 to September 15.
Express Tribune
22-06-2025
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Rawalpindi completes Leh dredging
A destitute couple braves the polluted waters of Nullah Leh in Rawalpindi, searching for discarded items to salvage in Dhok Ratta, Rawalpindi. PHOTO: AGHA MAHROZ/EXPRESS Ahead of the monsoon season, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has completed the desilting of Nullah Leh, a key flood channel in Rawalpindi. The project, launched on May 8 with heavy machinery and manpower, concluded recently and cost Rs80 million, funded by the Punjab government. The effort aims to ensure that major water flow during the monsoon can pass through Nullah Leh to the Soan River without causing urban flooding. Seven machines will remain stationed along the channel's banks until September as a precautionary measure. The 8-kilometre-long channel and 15 adjoining sewerage drains within Rawalpindi were cleared of silt, with efforts focused on increasing depth, removing blockages near bridges and culverts, and ensuring uninterrupted water flow. The project underwent two third-party inspectionsby the secretary of housing and the commissioner's teamwith a third inspection scheduled by the Federal Flood Commission. WASA also inspected all its monsoon-related machinery and launched a simultaneous cleaning operation for 15 city drains, expected to be completed by June 30. Additionally, it is working to clean and cover all open manholes, with a six-hour response time for complaint resolution. Preparations for the monsoon also include the establishment of one control room at the WASA headquarters and five emergency camps across the city.
