Amid warnings of penalties and dangers involved in crossing flooded wadis, violations in this regard continue unabated.
With some parts of the Sultanate of Oman receiving heavy rains following the condensation of clouds over the Al Hajar Mountains, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) has already had to take action against a citizen.
According to the police, the Al Dhahirah Governorate Police Command arrested the citizen for deliberately crossing an overflowing wadi.
“The citizen who risked crossing the wadi stream with his vehicle endangered his own life and the lives of other passengers with him," the police said, confirming legal procedure against the guilty.
Crossing of wadis is a punishable offence under Article 49 of the Traffic Law. Crossing wadis is an offence punishable by a hefty fine and a jail sentence. It puts your life and the lives of others in danger. Please be careful while driving, especially with the running wadis.
“The Law stipulates that any person who intentionally crosses the wadis in such a way as to endanger his life or the life of other passengers with him or others shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months and a fine not exceeding RO 500.”
While expressing concern, an ROP official said that despite the deployment of patrols and rescue teams in areas close to wadis by ROP and Public Authority for Civil and Ambulance, people do not heed to the warnings and cross wadis.
On the other hand, the Capital Market Authority issued a warning earlier, calling on citizens, residents, property owners, and owners of industrial establishments and shops to adhere to security and safety instructions during rain and valleys in a way that preserves their safety and the safety of their properties.
The authority stressed that working to follow the security and safety instructions will have a significant impact in mitigating the consequences of the property damage it causes and limiting losses that may fall on individuals and institutions.
The authority confirms that the unified vehicle insurance policy in the comprehensive insurance coverage provides coverage for damages caused by disasters.
However, it requires the holder of the document to take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of the vehicle and not to risk crossing the valleys and to follow the instructions of the Royal Oman Police.
“Deliberate crossing of the valleys and failure to follow the instructions of the police may lead to the denial of the right of the policyholder from compensation in the event that it is proven that the damage to the vehicle resulted from a deliberate act committed by its driver," it said.
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