Rain-hit valleys excite residents; police warn of danger
ras al khaimah — A downpour in the Ras Al Khaimah mountains revealed a scenic view of the valleys, enticing residents to go out and see it for themselves. Police, however, warned of the hazards the unstable weather poses and advised everyone to stay indoors.
Rainshowers have lashed the mountainous Aasama area, some 15km north of Masafi, filling the valleys with water, a scenery that is not usually seen in the emirate and elsewhere
80
Tankers, 40 pumping machines on standby to drain rainwater
in the country. Excited to check out the view, some residents went out amidst the cloudy weather.
“I took my wife and kids to the nearby valley to enjoy the weather and scenic views,” said Abdullah Al Shehi, an Emirati.
The police, however, warned that hitting the road “under the heavy showers and with flooded currents and valleys” is dangerous. “The public is urged to avoid the valleys and slippery roads, and contact the central operations room in case of emergency,” police said, adding that more patrols have been deployed to control the traffic flow and attend to emergency cases. The department of public works has also deployed several tankers and staffers to drain out any accumulated rainwater to ensure public safety.
Ahmed Al Hammadi, director general of the department, said they are ready for the coming seasonal showers with 80 tankers and 40 pumping machines.
“The department, which drained millions of gallons of rainwater last season, has come up with efficient and practical solutions to prevent rain from flooding the houses of people at the valleys and mountains. Edifices, farms and makeshift houses illegally built on the streams of the valleys were also removed,” he said.