Thieves stole essential equipment from the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s (PMD) automated water level gauging station in Rawalpindi, crucial for flood monitoring.
According to the FIR filed by Usman Shahzad, an electronic engineer at the PMD, the stolen items include batteries, a full assembly for float sensors, Arduino boards, GSM boards with mobile SIMs, a 12-volt solar panel, copper cable, and a steel box. The final automated SMS was received at 12:47 am on July 18, suggesting the theft occurred near the Katarian bridge around midnight.
This system is vital for the PMD’s flood forecasting and warning capabilities. The authorities promptly began installing replacement equipment, aiming for full restoration by Tuesday. In the interim, monitoring will continue using manual gauges.
The automated water level gauging system is critical for providing real-time water level updates of Leh Nullah, allowing officials to take timely action to mitigate flood damage. The PMD depends on this system for crucial data in flood forecasting and warnings.
