ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday cautioned the citizens to take special care as the heavy monsoon hit parts of the country.

The prime minister took notice of the situation and directed the national emergency service to be on high alert to cope with any situation.

“I have also directed all the relevant response agencies including NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) to be on high alert with ready and rapid emergency response actions,” he tweeted. Pakistan’s capital Islamabad witnessed heavy urban flooding, where its certain areas including the E-11 Sector were submerged in rainwater. Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan at various fora highlighted that Pakistan is among the ten countries which are most vulnerable to climate change.

Monsoon downpours are intermittently lashing different parts of the country including Islamabad, upper parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir. A spokesperson of Met Office said the highest rainfall of 123 mm was recorded in the federal capital followed by 103mm in Sialkot and Kotli, 56 mm. The spokesperson said this spell will persist during the next three days.

PM briefed on problems being faced by tourists in KP

Army troops busy in assisting civil administration

According to Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi, teams have been deployed in low lying areas of the city to deal with any emergency situation. According to the ISPR, heavy rains caused high water level in Nullah Lai and water accumulation in E-11. Army troops are busy in assisting civil administration in rescue and relief efforts. The ISPR said contingencies plans are in place to meet any flood situation.

Islamabad, Rawalpindi

At least two people including a minor lost their lives as urban flooding caused by torrential rains inundated streets and main roads in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, creating immense difficulties for the residents.

According to details, four children and their mother drowned in E-11 sector when a nearby drain overflowed and water entered their house. The administration rescued three children while one child and the mother died. Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat said in a message that Islamabad has faced flooding in various areas. He requested to cooperate with teams clearing nullahs and roads.

Videos from Islamabad’s sectors E-11 and D-12 show cars floating in gushing waters after heavy rains that lashed the federal capital and Rawalpindi for hours.

 

The twin cities received the highest rains during the current monsoon season. It is to mention that sector E-11 in Islamabad is located next to the Margallah Hills that’s why the hill torrents developed as the water made its way down.

The rain started in Islamabad at night while the bridges and electricity poles have been damaged. Minister Sheikh Rasheed went to monitor work and said that all flood-related staff was at the spot.

Lai Nullah experiencing high flood flows

The Federal Flood Commission (FFC) has said that high flood flows were generated

in Lai Nullah and water level at Kattarian Bridge was 21 feet at 0810 hours (Evacuation Level) and

17 feet at Gawal Mandi Bridge at 0910 hours (Evacuation Level) on Wednesday morning, owing to heavy rainfall in the twin cities of Islamabad-Rawalpindi.

According to daily FFC report on Wednesday, good monsoon rains are being experienced particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and AJ&K over the last 48 to 72 hours. At present, all main rivers of the Indus River System are flowing Normal with no riverine flood situation.

Owing to healthier rainfall in the catchment areas of the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum & Chenab), appreciable increase in the storage of country’s major reservoirs during last 2 weeks is being experienced.

The Combined Live Storage of major reservoirs (Tarbela, Mangla & Chashma) is 6.832 MAF (i.e. 50.54% of the total value of 13.516 MAF).

According to Flood Forecasting Division (FFD), Lahore, a fresh Monsoon Low has developed over Northern Bay of Bengal (India) with moderate moist currents from Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal are penetrating into upper parts of the country up to 5000 feet.

A comprehensive policy has been chalked out for provision of better facilities to tourists visiting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

This is said by Chief Minister KP Mahmood Khan during a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan, says a press statement issued here on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan apprised Prime Minister, Imran Khan in detail about measures so far taken for provision of facilities to the tourists and for resolution of problems being faced by people visiting different scenic sites of the province.

He also briefed PM about the progress being made on road map for promotion of tourism industry in the country, the statement added. A briefing was also given on progress over development schemes approved for Newly Merged Districts (NMDs).

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Imran Khan while laying emphasis on promotion of tourism sector has said that this is top priority of the present government.

Promotion of tourism will not only generate commercial activities in local markets but will also have a very positive impact on economy of the country, PM Imran Khan added. He issued directives for speeding up development schemes besides measures for promotion of tourism in the country.