Weather is not always predictable for it could be awfully surprising sometimes. Rain, for instance, is random with its associated impacts, winds, storms, floods or wadies. However, rain is usually a sign of happiness, hope, love and relieve. It falls to refresh both people and land as it revives life to the land and hope to people.
Despite the cheerfulness that rain brings to people, various catastrophic incidents might come out of the blue. Floods, wadies or little snowy rocks could be expected sometimes here and there around the country. Heavy rains with wadies flow over and floods block roads within different cities and neighbourhoods. This occurs very often when it rains; hence, it stresses people more than pleases them most of the times.
Therefore, rain comes with a sign of tension and frustration as some people get trapped in their homes, especially those living nearby mountains or valleys. They get surrounded by water as if they are staying in an island. Some sacrifice the cheerful moment of enjoying the rain to escape to a safer place. That is the only choice they think of at such moments of panic!
This tragedy takes place every time it rains within the capital and big cities where urban planning and road infrastructures are supposed to be well-structured and planned! The more buildings are built, the more drainage routes of valleys and rainfall floods get narrowed or probably blocked.
Out of such incidents, come hard and tragic experiences, which people are going through and properties are getting severely affected by. People get scared as floods cover their homes; it is very heartbreaking indeed what happens every now and then when it rains. Though it is very rare, when it happens it is very severe.
On the other hand, some people are carelessly putting their and other’s life at risk by crossing deep floods and rough flowing wadies. They give a cold shoulder to all the warnings of the weather forecast authorities and Royal Oman Police to stop crossing flooded areas. They give no attention to the potential risks by doing this! Thus, they either struggle to death or make it by being rescued at the last minute.
Many people have lost their life out of irresponsibility to show their muscles during such difficult times. Families have lost their loved ones by taking the risk to challenge the nature with their 4WD vehicles crossing the flowing rainwaters. Moreover, the rescue teams from concerned government bodies have lost their members many times on rescue missions. They also spend days and weeks searching for missing people on wadies.
Lots of sacrifices and rescue endeavors have been made by ROP, civil defense, Royal Air Force and other parties. Different government bodies always accord tremendous efforts during diverse weather conditions. However, similar heartbreaking drown incidents happen, people are missing and others lose their life for a risky moment of fun! What is that worth sacrificing one’s life for?!
With all the past hard times and displeasing happenings that Omanis have come across during rains and cyclones, it seems learning the hard way is not even helping! Can someone imagine how big the loss is, every time it rains! Losing someone’s life is not only a loss for his family, but to the whole nation. Losing someone’s home is a personal loss and a burden on society and nation alike. Therefore, government authorities, society and individuals shall all join forces to save people’s life, safeguard personal assets and protect the nation as a whole.
Protecting the country’s assets is a shared responsibility to be shouldered by citizens and government officials alike. Sustaining the public properties is everyone's must-to-do; each plays his essential role whenever and wherever is required. Moments of rain are always wonderful and let's not make them awful, but breathtaking instead of heartbreaking.
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