Raindrops

Rain started to fall again. Everyone with a loved one, a “significant other”, begins an emotional turmoil of romantic sentiments; while everyone without a loved one feels loneliness pushing harder into their lives. Smiles flash across farmers’ faces – and even bigger smiles on those who trade with the farmers: business will grow. Families squeeze together behind windows to observe the miracle, as it rarely rains in Oman over 5 times a year. And teenagers? Well they just wish the rain would go on and on, so that school would call off the next day, and hopefully the day after that as well.

But those aren’t the thoughts that go through my mind as I look out my car window, and start the wipers going (the wipers which, quite annoyingly, keep “braking” and making ridiculous squeaks because they’ve been too dry for too long). Anyhow, I start thinking of the number of accidents that will happen on this day. I sense the death toll increasing, and remain tensely waiting for the next day’s newspapers to announce the number of accidents/deaths, although it is always a somewhat conservative estimate. I remember the kids, and their excitement to investigate the Wadi’s (large vales), and the parents which allow them to do so – and in some cases actually take them to the wadi’s. Unfortunately, the excitement usually ends disastrously. I think of police stations gearing up for the difficult day and night to come. I remember the policemen and doctors who cancel their holidays when it rains and quickly join their work colleagues. I see hospitals clearing the beds of patients who may survive without a hospital bed – to make way for the predictable and more difficult cases to come.

I see the roads, and anger and frustration knocks on the door. Why are they not equipped for rain? Yes, I understand, rain is rare in Oman – but that does not make the efforts to remove its dangers “not worth it”! Do some simple cost-benefit analysis, and I’ll tell you – the costs of establishing roads which allow rain drainage are way under the costs incurred during rainy days in Oman. Furthermore, a new highway has been built from Al-Athaiba to Al-Qurum which is fabulous, and has reduced traffic tremendously during the past few months. However, were there any road engineers involved? Did they not see the ups-and-downs and the potential disaster(s) due to rain?

Having said that, the rest falls on us, the citizens. So please, please, please, please, please be careful when it rains. Don’t try to be a hero and “investigate” new areas. And for God’s sake, don’t take any kids with you in the car unless it’s EXTREMELY necessary. Finally, I hope those responsible for the roads take a more serious step to keep the country as safe as it is when it’s completely dry.

Cheers