2,000 workers called on to clear up rainwater

Dubai: About 2,000 people have battled for the last two days to clear Dubai's submerged roads as life limped back to normal in most of the city.

"Our people have been working around the clock for the last 48 hours to drain out accumulated water on roads and low lying areas of Dubai," said Taleb Julfar, Director of the Drainage and Irrigation Department at the Dubai Municipality.

He said the municipality closely co-operated with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the police to pump water from the flooded areas.

"Blockages in the storm water drainage system due to road construction were cleared while water pumps and tankers worked round the clock to drain the water," he said.

He said that all roads would be clear of water today, provided the rain stops.

He said the municipality had been gearing up since January 10 to cope with the rainy season by cleaning up and maintaining the pumps as well as setting up emergency teams. "The situation would have been worse had we not prepared for the rain," Julfar added.

He said the quantity of water due to the incessant rain had surpassed the capacity of the drainage network, resulting in flooding in some areas.

Julfar said that the Municipality has sent consultants to inspect the flooded sites, especially on Emirates Road, which witnessed heavy water accumulation at the entrance to Dubai, to avoid any such incidents in future.

Meanwhile, the emergency team formed by the RTA continued to address problems on roads to ensure the flow of traffic. "The team of some 700 people adopted remedies to minimise adverse conditions, congestion and the confusion motorists faced on flooded roads," said Engineer Hussain Al Banna, Director of the Right of Way Services Department and head of the RTA's Emergency Team.

He said that Emirates Road was one of the worst affected roads in the emirate on Tuesday. It witnessed massive traffic jams needing emergency teams to remove concrete blocks and open U-turns enabling motorists to use alternative roads.

Al Banna called on the public to cooperate with RTA emergency teams deployed in the city and report any accident, fault or exceptional circumstances that might crop up on roads.

He recommended drivers to keep ample distance, use front and rear vehicle lights when driving, even during the day, ensure that brakes are functioning properly, and not cross water ponds at high speeds.

The RTA clarified that no penalties will issued to motorists who drive below the minimum speed limit of 60kmh on highways.

"We have already spotted damage on various roads and will repair them as soon as the weather conditions improve," he said.

He clarified that no damage has been reported at the Metro construction sites. "We took extra precautions on those sites to ensure safety," he added.