Worried residents of Daman call for diverting flood path

By Hatim Al-Raheeli MADINAH — A flood path that cuts across the Daman district of Badr governorate passing by some 200 houses, schools and government buildings poses a potential threat to the lives of the district›s residents. The residents have urged the municipality to shift the flood path›s course to another area to save them from a possible disaster. Ahmed Al-Harbi said the flood path is only 20 meters wide, but rainwater from three major valleys joins it, making it huge and dangerous. ‘In the middle of the district, the width is less than six meters and it will be difficult for the path to hold such a huge mass of water,”he said. The narrow roads in the district makes it difficult for Civil Defense vehicles to reach fire-hit buildings as well as for big water tankers to serve their customers in the district, Al-Harbi said while speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette. Saad Al-Ghamdi said if the municipality fails to shift the flood path it would cause a human catastrophe in the district. ‘Most floods that have hit Daman over the past years have a height of three to four meters and pose a big danger to human lives and properties,”he added. The residents have proposed to construct a dam to divert the course of flashfloods outside the district. ‘This will be less expensive. There are no buildings nearby the proposed new flood path,”said Saeed Saleh, a resident. ‘The situation of the present flood path is precarious,”said Abdul Rahman Al-Subhi. ‘For the last 30 years we have been hit by floods many times almost every season. Daman gets heavily flooded during rain because a combination of flood paths converge on the district.” Floodwaters often inundate the main road and cuts off Daman from other parts of Badr. Musleh Al-Saadi, Ali Al-Khathami and Zuhair Al-Dhaheri urged the authorities to study the dangerous condition of the present flood path and find a quick solution for the problem after consulting people of Daman and its district chief. They said schools for boys and girls in the district should be closed and shifted to safer areas if the existing flood path is approved by the municipality. Khaled Miteb, director of public relations and information at the municipality, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the mayoralty has already approved the existing flood path, adding that it does not cross any road. Miteb did not comment on the apprehensions raised by Daman residents.