Debris cleared off Dubai’s highways after rain and hailstorm

Almost 100 workers of the Dubai Municipality toiled throughout the night to clean up the main highways of the city after the torrential rain and hailstorm caused chaos on Friday night.

Yaqoob Mohammed Al Ali, Head of the Specialised Cleaning Section of the Waste Management Department, told Khaleej Times the toughest job for the workers was clearing the debris from billboards blown away on highways. “The massive billboard on Al Khail Road was completely blown apart by heavy winds, leaving only the huge frame behind. The huge chunks of boards were strewn across the road. It was really dangerous for motorists and our workers struggled hard to clear the highway of these billboard pieces.”

Al Ali said municipal trucks made 80 trips to remove sand accumulated in different parts of the emirate. Most trips were made around the Cycling Club in Al Qudra area and on Al Qudra Road, 35 and 20 respectively.

He said huge amount of sand accumulation was cleared from Shaikh Zayed Road near Seih Sheib, Lahbab Road in Jebel Ali, Dubai Academic City Road and various patches of Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, especially near Al Maktoum International Airport and Global Village.

The municipal inspectors and workers also attended to four accidents on Shaikh Zayed Road, and one each on Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and Al Khail Road. “If people found everything fine on Dubai roads on Saturday morning, it was thanks to the hard work of our labourers whose work keeps the city clean and safe,” said Al Ali.

Sohail Mohammed Al Awadhi, Head of Bur Dubai Cleaning Unit, who was in charge of the city’s emergency cleaning operations, told Khaleej Times the Waste Management Department’s emergency teams were kept on standby from Thursday itself after the weather warnings were issued.

“They were working all night after the rain and hailstorm lashed Dubai. It was the worst ever experience for us as we have never seen such powerful storm uprooting trees, blowing away the massive signboards and completely engulfing Burj Khalifa as (if) it was eaten up,” he said.

He said the emergency teams, travelling in groups of one inspector and three labourers in municipality vehicles, shuttled up and down the main highways, especially the open areas. “During such weather we concentrate more on open areas and places where building construction is going on. Al Khail Road and Business Bay areas were such areas which were more affected this time.”

sajila@khaleejtimes.com