Qatar- PM orders probe against firms as projects fail test of rain

Date

11/25/2015 9:49:35 PM

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(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Motorists drive through flood water near Al Hilal traffic lights towards Industrial Area after heavy rains in Doha yesterday morning. Kammutty VP

A Honda CRV’s rear door is ripped apart and tossed up in the air as a Land Cruiser tries to tow the vehicle out of knee-deep water on a rainwater-logged street in Hilal in Doha yesterday. Qassim Rahmatullah

Workers remove rainwater from a residential compound in Al Wukair.  Salim Matramkot

DOHA: Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani has ordered investigations against companies and agencies that have completed some key infrastructure projects after these structures failed to get through incessant rains yesterday.

Some newly-completed school buildings and other structures were leaking and roads including major thoroughfares were flooded with rainwater in different places all over the country.

Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported that under the directives of the PM it was decided that all concerned bodies and companies that have implemented the projects which the current rains and the weather conditions have exposed their flaws must be referred for investigation and then to the Public Prosecution.

According to QNA the Government Communications Office announced yesterday that it was decided that five companies so far must be referred to investigation while parties responsible for dereliction of duty (or found negligent) whether government or private will be held accountable.

The rains began early yesterday morning with some areas in the country like Hamad International Airport (HIA) Abu Hamour Abu Samra Old Airport area in Doha and areas near Qatar University witnessing heavy downpour.

Areas near HIA witnessed torrential rains with an incredible 80.8mm recorded there. The next was Abu Hamour which recorded 31.8mm of rainfall.

In Abu Samra on the Qatari-Saudi Arabian border the rainfall recorded was 26.5mm. Messaieed recorded 17.8mm of rainfall whereas areas close to Qatar University witnessed 17.5mm of rainfall. In some parts of the Old Airport area of Doha rains began at 7am and lasted for more than 90 minutes inundating many internal streets major roads as well as low-lying areas.

The weather bureau had issued a warning a few days ago saying that unstable weather may continue in Qatar for five days beginning last Monday.

Yesterday the bureau issued a fresh warning about incessant rains lashing almost all parts of Qatar including Doha today.

Interestingly Al Ruwais which is considered a relatively cooler place in Qatar and the one that witnesses more rainfall received only 1mm of rainfall yesterday.

The driest place in the country was Ghuwayriya in the north which got only 0.3mm of rainfall. Al Khor too didn’t receive much of rain as the town recorded only 2.4 mm of rainfall.

On the other hand Al Wakrah Dukhan Umm Bab Ras Laffan and Al Jamiliya received more than five but less than 10mm of rainfall. All the seven municipalities which were making preparations for quite a while to tackle rain-related emergencies deployed water-draining machines fitted into tankers and deployed them in water-logged areas in their jurisdictions.

“Emergency teams are on the ground and they are giving their 100 percent to ease traffic movement on the roads” the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning tweeted on its official twitter account referring to the civic water-drainage teams.

Next it added on the Twitter: “Have patience and be cooperative with our Heroes. They are out there to remove the rainwater. Surely we will reach everyone Inshallah”.

The ministry gave emergency numbers of all seven municipalities and said on its Twitter account that people battling waterlogging should not hesitate to call for help. There was waterlogging near several schools and malls and the municipalities concerned rushed water-draining tankers.

At least there tankers were seen draining rainwater near Al Maha School in Ain Khalid in Doha.

Alarmed by the weather condition the Supreme Education Council (SEC) issued a circular to all Independent and private schools and kindergartens to suspend classes and send children back homes. It said it will be a normal school day today and there will be no suspension of classes in Independent and private schools.

However some schools will not be able to receive students today and classes will remain suspended to allow time to repair some damage caused to buildings due to yesterday’s heavy rains the SEC said.

It said its Education Authority (a department) and its Joint Services Department in cooperation with Civil Defence Kahramaa and Ashghal have reviewed the damage caused to some school buildings due to torrential rains.

Action is being taken to repair minor damage and ensure schools are ready to receive students as normal the SEC said adding people should not lend ears to rumours that all schools will be closed today. “This is rumour-mongering.”

The US embassy meanwhile said on its website that due to weather conditions it will be closed today as it was yesterday.

“No routine visa or American Citizen Services will be available. Applicants should reschedule appointments online. Pick-up of issued visas and US citizenship documents will recommence on Sunday” the embassy said.

Social media in Arabic and English became active with people posting comments and photographs of waterlogged areas and vehicles and people wading through knee-deep water on roads and low-lying areas.

Ashghal came in for a flak with people criticising it on social media for waterlogging on roads.

There were rumours that the flyover at Al Gharrafa Intersection (immigration) and the flyover at Umm Lekhba (Landmark) intersection were affected by rainwater.

Ashghal scotched the rumours on its Twitter account and urged people not to spread rumours and seek information through official sources.

The Peninsula