MULTAN/BAHAWALPUR/MANDI BAHAUDDIN/RAHIM YAR KHAN
Floods continued to affect the people of Punjab province by making inroads into vast swathes of the land on Wednesday.
The flood is knocking at the borders of Multan as many riverine areas came under water till filing of this report while about seven to eight lac cusecs water flow is yet to pass through Multan on Thursday (today).
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the flooded areas of Multan and directed the administration as well as the parliamentarians belonging to PML-N to make all-out arrangements for the rescue and rehabilitation of the affectees. Irrigation sources said that the current discharge of water from Head Trimmu in River Chanab was about 600,000 cusecs while the water of River Ravi would get added to this water near Kabirwala. “It will further aggravate the situation,” sources added.
The areas inundated include Muhammadpur Ghota, Mauza Hamrot, Qasim Bela, Basti Ponta, Tahirpur and Shahpur Lamma. However, the residents of these areas were evicted. In order to save urban areas of Multan, the district administration have made arrangements to make breaches at two spots. Sources said that the first cut would be made at approach road linking Head Muhammadwala bridge with Multan and the other at Sher Shah.
On the other hand, the district administration set up 85 camps for the flood affectees. Assistant Commissioner City Shakil Bhatti told journalists that a large number of citizens from flooded areas had been shifted to these camps and they were being provided with food, shelter and medicines. He disclosed that 450 citizens had so far been rescued from flooded areas by the jawans of Pakistan Army and Rescue 1122. The displaced citizens, however, complained that they could not get fodder for their animals.
Meanwhile, the Multan Corps has sent more troops to the river belt areas of Multan, Shujabad, Dera Ghazi Khan and Muzaffargarh in view of intensity of flood in River Chanab. Corps Commander Multan Lt. Gen. Abid Parvez carried out an aerial visit of flooded areas and reviewed flood-fighting arrangements. The troops are equipped with equipment like motorboats, life jackets and edibles. The troops have been deployed to ensure timely evacuation of citizens from flooded areas.
According to ISPR Bahawalpur, a meeting was held in Rahim Yar Khan under the supervision of Garrison Commander Bahawalpur Major General Sadiq Ali in which Brig Muneer Afsar, DPO RYK Sohail Zafar Chatta, DCO RYK Nabeel Javed, XEN Irrigation Saeed Hassam along with civil and Army officials participated.
In the meeting, the flood situation was reviewed and the administration was directed to shift the people from low-lying areas to the safer locations and evacuate these areas completely.
Garrison Commander Bahawalpur Major General Sadiq Ali took the aerial view of the river and safety arrangements considering current flood threat. More than 300 Army teams of Bahawalpur Garrison have been dispatched to different locations with 30 boats, life jackets and rescue equipment.
The teams will be deployed at the locations of Head Panjnad, Chachran Sharif, Acha Bangla and Uch Sharif. Units are orders to stay on high alert to counter any disastrous situation. Besides, Pakistan Army has established several relief centres in different areas of Bahawalpur where donors have started to donate things.
The Mandi Bahauddin administration has said that flood in Chenab and Jhelum rivers hit 98 villages. Briefing media persons at his office on Wednesday, the DCO said 108,875 people were trapped in floodwater among which 7,809 were rescued by administration with support of army and rescue teams while the rest of the people themselves moved to safe places. Twelve motor boats were used in rescue operation. So far, 38,930 kilo rations had been distributed to the displaced persons. Five relief centres are working to provide relief materials to people. DCO further said that 18,742 animals had been vaccinated and 1,654 were given medical treatment. Five persons died in floods and compensation of Rs8 million was paid to their heirs.
Meanwhile, the chief minister paid second trip to Mandi Bahauddin flood hit areas to review the damage caused to crops and houses. He also inspected relief centers set up in flood affected area. The DCO briefed the CM about the rescue operation. The CM expressed satisfaction over the performance of the district administration. He directed the DCO to make estimates of damage caused to crops and houses. He said he would not rest until all the affected people were compensated and rehabilitated.
Army Chief Raheel Sharif visited Qadirabad Barrage a day earlier and had aerial view of the flood hit area in Hafizabad and Mandi Bahauddin district. He observed rescue and relief operation going on in the area. In charge army rescue team briefed the chief on progress rescue efforts and their results. The general asked local commanders to utilise all available resources to help the people. He said we would not leave flood hit area alone and vowed to rehabilitate them as soon as possible. In Rahim Yar Khan Army men have been deployed, said General Officer Commanding Major General Sadiq Ali while talking to the media at airport. He said that Army troops are ready to help their brothers who are affected due to flood. He further said that on instructions of the COAS, the Army is helping the affected peoples.
Commissioner Bahawalpur Captain (R) Javed Akbar Bhatti visited Chachran Sharif, Simka, Banoo da Hat and visited the relief camps established for the flood victims.
In Chachran Sharif SE Irrigation Saeedul Hassan said during the briefing that on 11th of September a flow of 9 to 10 lac cusecs floodwater is expected to pass through this area for which all the safety arrangements have been completed. Hundreds of people have been shifted to safer locations. The assistant commissioner of Khanpur said that all the necessary facilities were provided for the flood victims in relief camps. The commissioner directed the administration to aid flood victims in every possible way and negligence will not be tolerated in this matter.
Bahawalpur district has been divided into three sectors, Sutluj, Channab, Channab and eight relief camps have been established in these sectors. He said that 6 lac to 7 lac cusecs of water is expected to pass through Bahawalpur from 11th of September to 15th of September. He added that to counter any flood situation 4000 tents have been arranged and every relief camp is provided with the 5000 liter capacity water tanks for clean drinking water.