Muscat, The Royal Oman Police (ROP) is exerting extensive efforts to tackle the impacts of heavy rains that drenched many governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.

The rains caused the overflowing of wadis in different wilayats as follows: Al Awabi and A’Rustaq (South Al Batinah Governorate), Ibri, Yanqul an Dhank (A’Dhahirah Governorate), Nizwa, Al Hamra and Bahla (A’Dakhiliyah Governorate).

The floods impacted roads and houses in the vicinity of wadis. They drifted vehicles and stranded people who attempted crossing flooded wadis.

Colonel Jumaa Saif Al Mazru’ee, Assistant Commander of A’Dakhiliyah Governorate Police, said that, after the recent rains, there was an uptake in the number of people stranded in vehicles. He noted that such incidents are being repeated in every climatic condition due to rash behaviour that ignored warnings concerning risks posed by wadis. Many people trapped in their vehicles were saved by rescue teams using special equipment.

Police patrols and security checkpoints were operated to prevent drivers from crossing flooded wadis. As a measure to limit the repetition of such incidents, the ROP suspended drivers who attempted braving wadis on grounds that they endanger their lives and the lives of others.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Sultan Rashid Al Dar’ee, Assistant Commander of A’Dhahirah Governorate Police, said that the ROP command in A’Dhahirah was on high alert during rainfall and wadi flooding. As a result, public security action (to limit wadi crossing risks) was undertaken by the ROP’s Special Tasks and the Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (ACDA).

With the assistance of the Police Aviation, the A’Dhahirah Governorate Police Command handled Mayday calls with high efficiency. The action included medical evacuation of a patient who was impossible to transport from home to a nearby health establishment due to wadi flooding. Also, an expatriate, who was stranded in the Wilayat of Yanqul’s Wadi Al Raki, was rescued.

A family that was stranded in a vehicle in a flooded Wadi Al Buweidra, Wilayat of Yanqul, was rescued by teams from the Public Security Department and the ACDA. The teams also rescued expatriates who were stranded in another wadi, among them one was transported to Ibri Hospital for treatment.

The ROP urges all members of the public to take full precaution during rains and follow up weather reports issued by the departments concerned. In particular, all are advised to avoid wadis and low-lying areas.

The ROP thanked citizens and residents who abided by the law and those who assisted police squads during such circumstances.

Source: Oman News Agency