Cement safety barriers have been installed along exposed rainwater channels in Hamala’s Block 1010, easing residents’ concerns after a spate of alarming night-time incidents in which vehicles unknowingly drove into open drains.
The swift action followed directives issued by the Ministerial Committee for Development Projects and Infrastructure, chaired by Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, just a day after safety risks were flagged, including in a GDN report on April 23.
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Minister Wael Al Mubarak was instructed to co-ordinate with the Works Ministry to assess exposed agricultural and rainwater drains across affected areas and implement appropriate safety measures.
The issue was raised by area councillor Mohammed Al Dossary after residents reported incidents in which cars fell into unprotected concrete channels running between homes and towards the shoreline. “These channels were practically invisible after dark,” Mr Al Dossary said. “There were no barriers, no warning signs and very limited lighting. A driver unfamiliar with the area would have no idea that a deep drain was directly ahead.”
Residents said the situation had become a recurring nightmare, marked by loud crashes and cries for help, prompting neighbours to rush out and assist stranded motorists until emergency services arrived.
“One moment you hear tyres, the next there’s a bang,” a resident earlier said. “People were genuinely terrified, especially families travelling with children at night.”
Mr Al Dossary stressed that the danger was not theoretical but immediate.
“These are deep stormwater agricultural channels designed for heavy runoff. A vehicle falling into one is a serious incident with a real risk to life,” he said. “This had gone far beyond a minor municipal issue – it was a public safety emergency.”
He noted that delivery drivers, visitors and new residents were particularly vulnerable.
Following the report, rapid intervention led to the installation of cement barriers along the most exposed stretches, creating a clear physical separation between the roadway and the drains.
Mr Al Dossary praised the speed of the response.
“This is a huge step in protection and it sends a strong message that safety concerns raised by the community are taken seriously at the highest levels,” he said. “The quick action has immediately reduced the risk, and residents feel a sense of relief.”
However, he emphasised that the barriers should be viewed as an urgent first measure rather than a final solution.
“We are grateful for the immediate action, but we are also looking ahead,” he said. “This area needs reflective signage, better lighting and, where possible, engineering solutions to cover or redesign the most dangerous sections.”
Residents said conditions became even more deceptive during the rainy season, when pooled water made parts of the street resemble shallow flooding, masking the presence of the drains.
“In wet weather, you simply cannot tell where the road ends and the channel begins,” another resident said.
Mr Al Dossary confirmed that residents had formally escalated the matter through municipal channels before the recent developments, fearing that a fatal accident was inevitable without intervention.
“These drains serve an important purpose for rainwater management, but public safety must come first,” he said. “What has been done now is important, but the goal is to ensure this risk is permanently removed.”
With barriers now in place, residents say the immediate danger has been reduced – but they remain hopeful that comprehensive upgrades will follow to ensure Hamala’s streets are safe for all road users, day and night.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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