Sharjah floods cause disruption at school
SHARJAH // Parents and children waded through muddy water and flooded car parks to reach school yesterday as rain lashed much of the country.
Water pooled at car park entrances and the lack of drainage left water standing for hours.
In the Muwaileh area of Sharjah, muddied parents struggled to carry their children to classes.
“The moment I got out of the car, I found myself standing in mud, my shoes and my trousers were soaked,” said Jordanian Shireen Al Younis, 34, who was dropping her son and daughter at Rosary School. Elham Tarkawi, a Lebanese mother of two, said parents helped each other to reach the entrance. “I helped mothers who were struggling to get their kids across 200 metres of mud,” said the 38-year-old.
Ahmed Shahin, 40, from Syria, said the area around his children’s school turned into a swamp each time it rained.
“I suggested that school management collect Dh50 from each parent,” said Mr Shahin.
“I have to drive at least 30 minutes to go back home and change my clothes for work,” said Aidah Omar, 38.
Sister Sawsan Badr, the principal of Rosary School, said the area had been levelled to alleviate the problem.
“We have done it twice at our expense. We have requested several times for this problem to be resolved,” she said.
Nasreen Banu, the principal of Gulf Asian English School, urged Sharjah authorities to act.
“This area needs a better water drainage system,” said Ms Banu. A spokesman from Sharjah Municipality said emergency teams and water pumps were deployed yesterday to clear flooded roads in the emirate.