MUSCAT: The Royal Oman Police (ROP) and the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA) stood guard to people stranded in the rains as vehicles got stuck in the flash floods on Tuesday when the incessant rains threw life out of gear.
The officials were seen towing vehicles from the smudge and controlling the traffic wherever signals went off during the rains and the flash floods.
Meanwhile, the authorities have warned that those daring the flash floods would invite punitive actions including fines and retention of vehicles depending upon the nature of offence as several officials were seen standing near the flash floods trying to book the offenders.
“Driving across an overflowing wadi will invite legal action if found to be violating the instructions issued by the ROP and the CDAA regarding the same,” a CDAA spokesperson told the Observer, adding that the CDAA is closely following up with the Oman Meteorology authorities and are well prepared to act accordingly.
The torrential rains paused people’s lives as heavy downpour and water clogs slowed down vehicular movements across various governorates including North and South Al Batinah, Al Sharqiyah, Al Wusta, Dhofar, and some parts of Al Dhahirah and Al Buraimi.
“While precautions are taken to minimise the impact of rains and flash floods and security forces and equipment are already in action in those places highly prone to the adverse weather phenomenon. They people were requested to take caution and not to risk their life and others’ by crossing the overflowing valleys, due to the rainfall of varying intensity in many parts of the country,” he added.
“People in the affected areas should remain calm and there was no need to t panic. They should follow the official announcements and not forwarded news or baseless information”, the CDAA official added.
The Met office of the Sultanate of Oman has issued the latest statement saying that the weather event would start gradually weakening by Wednesday night, with continuing chances of scattered rains until Thursday morning. Convective clouds continued to flow and form over the northern governorates, which spelt the chances of sporadic rain of varying intensity.
@kabeeryousef
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
