Over 1.5 million gallons of rainwater removed

DOHA: The Ministry of Municipality and Environment represented by the Joint Rainfall Emergency Committee removed over 1.5 million gallons of rainwater from several low-lying areas, showing that the department is ready to handle rains forecast in the next few days.

According to the Qatar Meteorology Department, unstable weather conditions are expected to return starting today evening till Wednesday due the passage of an upper level low pressure system creating chances of light to moderate rainfall at some places.

“Al Rayyan Area witnessed the highest waterlogging indicating pretty good rainfall — from heavy to moderate rain at places,” Safar Mubarak Al Shafi, the Head of the Committee and Director of General Cleanliness Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment told The Peninsula.

He said that some southern parts of the country — Al Rayan, Al Khor and Al Daayen —received comparatively high rainfall causing waterlogging at places. The committee swung into action and pressed in services adequate number of tankers and deployed enough workers to clear the waterlogging from affected places, he added.

He said that the operation for clearing waterlogging started on Friday and continued till 8am yesterday. A total of 1,506,000 gallons rainwater – 375 tanker loads were removed from all municipalities.

He said that the committee received many calls from citizens and expatriates seeking to remove waterlogging from their localities. “Responding to the calls, we dispatched immediately tankers, workers and necessary machines to clear the waterlogging to ensure the traffic flow,” said Al Shafi, adding that the operation was done at a record time.

Regarding the preparation of the committee in dealing with rainwater, Al Shafi said: “We are in close touch with Qatar Meteorology Department and moving according to the forecast.” He added that the Qatar Meteorology Department is a member of the Joint Rainfall Emergency Committee.

Qatar Meteorology Department keeps updating the Joint Rainfall Emergency Committee about rainfall. “The department alerts us and provides details about rainfall, where and how much rain is expected,” said Al Shafi.

According to the forecast given by the Department to the Committee, the country is expected to receive rainfall this week – especially more rain likely on Tuesday and Wednesday.

He said that the committee has a complete programme to cope with any emergency like situation due to heavy rainfall, which is being implemented in collaboration with authorities concerned including Traffic Department and the Public Works Authority, Ashghal, whenever it is needed.

“Chances of rainfall expected to return from Sunday evening may be thundery at times”, said Qatar Meteorology Department in a statement yesterday.

The rainfall is expected to accompany with strong wind which may reach 30kt causing rising dust and high waves up to 8ft. In general, the expected amounts of rain range between light to moderate and temperatures will be around their regular average ranging between 25 °C and 35°C.

The Department urged citizens and expatriates to be cautious and to check weather conditions before going to sea as well as to follow latest updates through it’s official social media accounts.