ISLAMABAD - National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has so far dispatched 10,000 tents, 26 boats and 100 life jackets to government of Punjab and 200 tents, 1,000 blankets and three rubber boats to Islamabad capital territory to cope with the flood emergency in areas affected by recent flash floods.
Whereas some 3,000 tents, 3,000 blankets and 1,500 plastic mats have been dispatched to State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), AJK, and another 275 tents to Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA), according to NDMA sources.
Large areas surrounding Rivers Chenab and Jhelum were inundated by flash floods triggered by heavy rains, killing more than 200 people and causing huge losses to property mainly across Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan.
More than 18,227 people have been evacuated from affected areas. The prime minister has directed NDMA to coordinate with concerned provincial authorities to ensure immediate rescue/relief activities.
According to the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD), Lahore, River Chenab at Punjnad is likely to attain 6000,000 to 700,000 cusecs of water resulting in ‘exceptionally high’ flood level during September 12 to 15 that can inundate districts Toba Tek Singh, Khanewal, Layyah, Muzaffargarh and Multan.
A mainly dry weather is expected on Tuesday over most parts of the country; however, Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecasted isolated thunderstorms over Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Bannu and Kohat divisions, Mohmand, Bajaur and Waziristan agencies, Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK and sub-mountainous areas of Punjab.