Floods-Relief
PESHAWAR: Following heavy torrential rains and flash floods in different parts of the country including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the Federal Government’s departments have taken a leading role in the rescue and relief operations by providing the much-needed humanitarian assistance including food and non-food items to thousands of flood victims.
Besides provincial departments and Rescue 1122, the officials of National Disasters Management Authority (NDMA), National Highway Authority (NHA), troops of Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force and Frontier Corps expedited rescue and rehabilitation operations in the flood hit areas of the country including KP and worst affected Balochistan on Sunday.
The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a fresh flood update on Sunday said that the troops were busy in rescue and relief efforts apart from providing medical care and opening up communication infrastructure.
As per the prevailing rivers situation, all rivers were flowing normal except Indus that was witnessing a low flood at Attock , Tarbela, Chashma, and Guddu. A low flood at Warsak and medium flood at Nowshera in River Kabul were also recorded.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a maximum 133 mm rain was recorded in Mardan followed by Mohmand (85 mm). After massive rain, dewatering efforts were carried out in Mardan whereas flash floods were reported in local nullahs of Mohmand district.
In Southern Punjab, all hill torrents were flowing normal except some increased flow in Mithawan, Kaha and Sanghar Hill torrents.
According to ISPR, the local commanders visited Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan where relief items were distributed among flood affectees. The medical camps were also established in both districts.
In Balochistan’s Jhal Magsi, complete connectivity of Gandhawa was restored and there was no isolated area in Gandhawa and it’s surroundings whereas relief activities were underway. The Army Medical Camp treated some 115 patients.
In Khuzdar, M-8 route was still cut off and work on resumption of connectivity was underway.
Moreover, the field Medical Camp established by CMH Khuzdar and FC in Hafizabad treated some 145 affected people.
In Naseerabad, there was no rain recorded throughout the day and relief activities were underway for affected population of Babakot and Gandakha.
The forces also distributed ration and cooked food among flood victims whereas field Medical Camp in Gandakha treated various patients. In Chaman, no rain was recorded whereas Bab-e-Dosti was fully functional.
In Noshki, no rain was recorded on Sunday in the area where relief efforts were underway for stranded population.
Moreover, cooked meals were served to over 1,000 people. The N-40 was damaged at three places, which was repaired and traffic resumed.
In Lasbela, the situation was stabilizing as no rain was reported in the area. As many as five field medical camps were providing medical care in Naka, Bela, Duddar, Hub and Gadani. The affected N-25 route was opened whereas repair work on bridges was underway. The General Officer Commanding at Gawadar visited Hub and Uthal. Two sorties of MI-17 were conducted and 1,500 kilogrammes of ration items were distributed in Hub and Uthal.
In Kila Saifullah, rainfall was reported in entire Kila Saifullah district. In Muslim Bagh, Field Medical camp was established at Khazina treated more than 200 patients.
In Gilgit Baltistan (GB), two mudslides reported near Sikandarabad at Karakorum Highway (KKH) where the road was opened for one way traffic by the Frontier Works Organization (FWO).
Ikhtiar Wali, PMLN KP spokesman and member Provincial Assembly told APP that despite official engagements, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has visited the flood-hit areas of Balochistan where he personally reviewed rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures.
At Shambani village of Jhal Magsi, he said the Prime Minister met with the people affected by the floods and directed for establishing of a medical camp and provision of medicines for people of the affected village.
He said the Prime Minister ordered the posting of a veterinary doctor for the livestock and asked the authorities to immediately arrange two boats and rations for the villages and speed up the relief activities.
In line of the Prime Minister’s directions, he said the Chief Secretary Balochistan has immediately sent additional teams for relief activities in the flood-affected areas and a medical camp was established, relief goods and medicines were delivered and a veterinary doctor arrived at the Shambani village.
Ikhtiar Wali said the federal government would give Rs one million each to the families of those who lost their lives during floods.
The provincial government would also give Rs one million to families of the flood victims.
Wali said the federal government would also give Rs 500,000 each for each destroyed houses and Rs 200,000 for partially damaged houses.
On the special instructions of Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, PAF personnel and helicopter fleet are actively engaged in providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief support to the people stranded in flash floods affected areas of Balochistan.
The PAF helicopters distributed 4,200 kilogrammes ration comprising flour, ghee, sugar, daal, tea in the calamity hit areas during last Friday and Saturday, according to PAF media wing press release.
Additionally, several families have been evacuated from land locked areas to safer place.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Communications, Maulana Asad Mahmood visited the flood affected areas of Peshawar and directed the concerned authorities to expedite relief and rehabilitation operations.
The Minister said that federal government was standing with flood victims of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and would continue efforts till rehabilitation of the last affected person.
Talking to flood victims, the minister said that he came here on the directives of the Prime Minister to express soliderity with affectees and personally observed the floods damages.
He directed for early compensation to heirs of dead flood victims and restoration of the national highways affected by the natural calamities.
Asad Mahmood said that Prime Minister has already announced compensation for heirs of the dead flood victims and postponed his visit to Tank and DI Khan today due to bad weather.
Engr Amir Muqam, Adviser to the Prime Minister for Political and Public Affairs has visited Orakzai tribal district where he reviewed floods and rains damages.
He met with the affected people and assured full support to the flood affected people of merged districts.
