Chief Secretary says 10 districts ‘worst affected by rains’ n Pakistan Army, FC troops step up rescue and relief efforts n National roads sustain huge losses in fresh rain spells n PDMA issues high level flood alert in River Chenab.
So far 356 have died across country due to rains, PM told.
QUETTA/ISLAMABAD - Balochistan Chief Secretary Abdul Aziz Aqili said Thursday that flash floods triggered by the torrential rains claimed several more lives during the last 24 hours, raising the death toll to 111.
“The provincial government is facing a huge challenge to cope with the situation arising after the heavy downpour and flash floods,” he said during a press briefing here at Jamali Auditorium of Civil Secretariat. Chairman NHA Khuram Agha and DG PDMA Naseer Nasar were also present.
Sharing details about the damages caused by rain and relief operation in the calamity-hit areas, he said that10 districts of the province were worst affected by the monsoon rains as, during the recent monsoon spell, it rained 500 percent more than it was recorded during the last 30 years.
About colossal damages caused to property, infrastructure and livestock, the CS said that rain and floods have damaged over 10,000 houses, of them 6700 are completely destroyed. It caused damages to at least six main bridges, approximately 565 km of road while712 livestock also died.
‘DAMAGE ASSESSMENT’
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif constituted a committee to assess the damage caused by monsoon rains and floods in different parts of the country and directed the federal ministers to immediately visit the flood affected areas in the country. The PM issued theses directives while chairing a meeting in Islamabad on Thursday.
Shehbaz Sharif said the committee comprising of federal ministers should visit all the affected areas in the next four days and submit report to him, so that further measures could be taken. Shehbaz Sharif announced to enhance the compensation of injured people from fifty thousand rupees to two hundred thousand rupees. The Prime Minister said short, medium and long term plans will be formulated in the light of recommendations of the committee on the fourth of next month. Abolishing the separate assistance for the mud and concrete houses, he directed to provide equal assistance to all the affected houses. He said the assistance for the partially damaged houses should be enhanced from twenty five thousand rupees to two hundred and fifty thousand rupees whilst that of fully damaged houses to five hundred thousand rupees from fifty thousand rupees. The Prime Minister said the federal government will extend full cooperation to the provincial governments to cope with the impact of the natural calamity.
Shehbaz Sharif said the national and provincial disaster management authorities should ensure implementation of disaster risk management strategy. He said relevant ministries and departments should accelerate efforts to secure financial support by establishing contacts with international donor agencies.
Shehbaz Sharif said the federal government will write a letter to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to provide the fund available with it for rehabilitation of infrastructure affected by the recent rains and floods in Karachi.
The Prime Minister also commended the relief efforts of NDMA, PDMA and provincial governments in the rain and flood affected areas. The meeting was informed that so far 356 people have died across the country due to floods and rains.
These include one in Islamabad, 106 in Balochistan, 90 in Sindh, 69 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 76 in Punjab, 8 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and 6 in Azad Kashmir while the number of injured people is 406.
The forum was informed that relief operations are underway in the affected areas by NDMA and respective PDMAs. Apart from this, the provincial administration and the National Highway Authority are engaged in relief operations and infrastructure maintenance in the affected areas. The meeting was also informed in detail about the financial assistance to be distributed among the victims.
Earlier while highlighting the government prompt response to the catastrophe, the Chief Secretary noted that even before the pre-monsoon due to the forecast of rains, the vacations of the staff of all the concerned institutions were cancelled. Abdul Aziz, however, clarified that the provincial government and Pakistan Army helicopters are on standby but not being used due to bad weather.
He noted that section 144 has been implemented in the province. Heavy traffic between Quetta to Karachi is suspended as citizens are being requested to avoid unnecessary travel for ten days.
It may be recalled that torrential rain starting from 13 June is continuing to play havoc in parts of the province. Labella, Khuzdar Jhal Magsi and its surrounding areas are the worst affected districts where heavy downpour and flooding has badly hit the human settlements destroying infrastructure and inundating hundreds of villages. “Those died during the monsoon rains and flooding included 34 children, 30 women and 42 men,” a report issued by PDMA said, adding 62 people suffered injuries.
‘NHA TO REPAIR DAMAGED ROADS’
Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Asad Mahmood on Thursday directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to take all necessary measures for repair or reconstruction of all roads damaged during recent heavy rains and floods in the country.
“The authority should take immediate practical steps for smooth flow of traffic on its network to the convenience of the motorists,” the minister said in a statement issued here. According to details received by NHA, Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad road had been blocked due to the fall of large rocks. Three excavators have been rushed to the site to reopen the road.