Emirates Road in a jam

Initially attributed to a pipe burst, the leakage later turned out to have originated from a nearby water reservoir of a private party, Abdul Majid Sifaee, Director of the Drainage and Irrigation Department at Dubai Municipality, told Khaleej Times. The leakage flooded Emirates Road near Silicon Oasis towards Sharjah.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), meanwhile, has initiated an investigation to fix responsibility in the incident.

“Neither sewage nor irrigation water caused the flooding. It was caused by a leakage in a reservoir which does not belong to the civic body,” the official explained. “We believe the reservoir belongs to one of the many private properties whose projects are coming up in the area,” added Sifaee.

Engineer Hussain Al Banna, Director of Traffic at the RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, said that following the water leakage, the RTA and Dubai Police immediately closed the Al Qusais-bound traffic and diverted it to Al Ain Road, University City Road, and Dubai Bypass Road, in order to minimise traffic bottlenecks.

Also, some 15 tankers and six site pumps were pressed into service immediately to pump the water out. It took more than three hours for the authorities to get the road running again.

Al Banna said: “RTA will take strict action to prevent recurrence of similar incidents. Contractors and other companies are asked to exercise caution and comply with regulations.”

Meanwhile, some motorists stuck in the jam narrated their woes to Khaleej Times.   Amanat, a bank employee who was travelling to Sharjah via the Emirates

Road said: “The last time I came across such a jam was last year when Dubai was flooded with rainwater.

“The diversions were completely jam packed and it took me almost an hour and a half getting through it. I had to pay Dh120 to the taxi as a result.” Aleem Sayed, who lives in Sharjah, said: “I witnessed a heavy rush at the Al Khail Road towards Sharjah all through the morning hours. Normally, traffic on this road is smooth.

“I reach Al Nahda area in Sharjah through this road in 45 minutes, but today, it took me more than an hour to cover the same journey.”

Some motorists also complained about the Shaikh Zayed Road being clogged (towards Sharjah).

“There was also a jam at Shaikh Zayed Road towards Sharjah for those not using Salik. It was unusual because in the morning hours the rush is from the other end (Sharjah to Dubai).

Dubai should be taking some steps to solve its drainage problem immediately. A sudden rain or water logging causes panic here,” said Angad Anand, another bank employee.

joy@khaleejtimes.com,   afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE