Army, Navy gear up relief, rescue operation

KARACHI (APP) - During the two weeks uninterrupted search and rescue operation 'Madad, Pakistan Navys relief teams have evacuated 85,000 persons and provided 69,000 kilograms of food and relief goods in the flood affected areas of Sindh. Pakistan Navy will continue to undertake rescue missions and distribute food in these areas, says a Navy statement issued here on Monday. It said that during last 24 hours, 7,500 people were shifted to safer places by PN rescue teams from Khairpur, Kandhkot, Ghauspur, Rohri, Sukkur, Thul and Noshero Feroz areas. Relief teams are making extensive use of hovercrafts and helicopters while undertaking rescue mission. PN helicopters airdropped 15,500 kilograms food and relief goods in Tangwani, Ghauspur, Karampur, Khairpur, Thul and Mirpur areas. In addition, 18,000 kilograms food and dates were transported to Sukkur. Apart from this, a convoy carrying 10 Zulu boats, 100 tents and 3,000 kilograms ready-to-cook food also reached Sukkur. 6,000 kilograms of packaged food is also ready to be dispatched. Pakistan Navy has established a major relief camp at Pakistan Maritime Museum to facilitate people, who intend to make donations for flood affectees. All collections will be transported to affected areas under supervision of Pakistan Navy. The relief camp can be contacted on telephone numbers 48503046 and 0300-2636741. Pakistan Navy Women Association (PNWA) has also dispatched seven days ration packs for 3,500 people to Khairpur. While, three C-130 airplanes carrying relief goods for flood- battered areas of Balochistan have arrived in Quetta, said the Spokesman of ISPR Quetta Cantt on Monday. The relief goods are being transported to the affected areas by 50 trucks, he added. The relief consignments dispatched by the Pak Army for Balochistan flood affectees includes 20 tons of ration, over 0.1 million bottles of mineral water, blankets, tents, dates, clothes, shoes and carpets. It merits mentioning here that Pakistan Army from the day one has been devotedly busy evacuating the millions of people stranded in floodwaters in Naseerabad and Sibi divisions, who had been displaced by raging flood torrents, he said. About 1,500 Army Jawans are engaged in relief operation in said calamity hit areas of Balochistan. Besides, in a bid to rescue and evacuate flood stricken people 16 boats, four helicopters, 20 trucks were round the clock making endeavours, he maintained. Five flood relief camps have been set up by the Pak Army including in Dhadar, Sibi, Quetta, Dera Murad Jamali and Sibi Cantt. Twelve teams of doctor including two female teams are also striving hard to provide medical treatment to the flood victims. Whereas, Pakistan Army has also geared up the relief and rescue operations in flood affected areas of Sindh. An ISPR Press release issued here on Monday said that fresh troops have been deployed to assist the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Government of Sindh to prepare and organise the lDP camps in Sukkur for the flood-hit people of Jacobabad and Shikarpur. It said that troops deployed at Guddu and Kot Sabzal are committed to keep the National Highway open. They are assisting the NHA and Irrigation Department by closing the breach and marginal bund near Reni Canal and have ensured the dewatering at National Highway. Floodwater is diverted to less populated areas thus ensuring safety to Railway track also. The Army is providing cooked meals and edibles to the flood victims. Lodra Grid Station flooded at Shikarpur has been made functional with sustained efforts of Army. Transformer shifted to the roof and the power supply to upper Sindh and Balochistan has been restored. General Officer Commanding Pano Aqil Garrison, Major General Nasrullah Tahir Dogar, chaired a meeting with Secretary Irrigation and Director General PDMA Sindh. Army will also shoulder this responsibility and share the burden of meals, health and medicines etc. Separate arrangements for cattle are also made to reduce the miseries of marooned people, ISPR press release added.

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