Pindi Residents Fear Urban Flooding Under Dangerous Roofs
News Desk
Rawalpindi: Behind the busy markets and historic streets of Rawalpindi lies a growing safety concern as hundreds of families continue to live in ageing buildings that authorities have already declared hazardous, raising fears of a disaster during the ongoing monsoon.
The problem is particularly acute in the city’s older neighbourhoods, where centuries-old structures have deteriorated over decades while successive additions have altered their original designs.
Several government institutions, including the Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation, Chaklala Cantonment Board, District Council and Evacuee Trust Property Board, have issued notices to occupants of unsafe buildings. Yet, many residents remain in these structures, highlighting the gap between official warnings and practical enforcement.
Most of the buildings are estimated to be 120 to 170 years old. Some originally constructed as smaller structures have gradually been expanded to three or four storeys, increasing pressure on already weakened foundations, walls and roofs.
For families living inside them, the danger is not limited to the buildings themselves. In some cases, four or five families share a single structure, including women and children, leaving large numbers of people exposed if a roof or wall gives way.
The issue stretches across some of Rawalpindi’s busiest and oldest localities, including Bohar Bazaar, Ghazni Road, Lal Haveli, Purana Qila, Dingi Khoi, Bagh Sardaran, Raja Bazaar, Bhabra Bazaar, Kartarpura, Androon Moti Bazaar, Mughal Sarai and Saddar Chhota Bazaar.
Monsoon turns old buildings into ticking risks
Heavy and prolonged rainfall can further weaken already deteriorated walls and roofs. Every monsoon brings renewed concern over possible structural failures, particularly in densely populated areas where buildings stand close together.
Residents fear that a collapse in one of the narrow streets could quickly turn into a major emergency. The congested layout of many old neighbourhoods could make it difficult for rescue and emergency vehicles to reach affected buildings in time.
The danger also extends to the city’s historic religious heritage. Several temples and gurdwaras have reportedly been declared dangerous because of their deteriorating condition, putting both human safety and valuable heritage at risk.
Warnings without a lasting solution
For residents, the central question is what happens after a building is declared dangerous.
While notices have been issued, many occupants have continued living in the structures, often leaving authorities with the difficult task of balancing safety concerns with the lack of alternative accommodation.
Residents are now calling for more than inspections and warning notices. They want authorities to identify the most vulnerable buildings, ensure timely evacuation where necessary, provide safer accommodation for affected families and prevent further unauthorised construction.
As monsoon rains continue, the deteriorating buildings of Rawalpindi are no longer simply an issue of ageing infrastructure. For the families living inside them, every spell of heavy rain brings a renewed fear that a weakened roof or wall could turn a long-standing warning into a tragedy.
