BAHAWALPUR/MULTAN:
Authorities are on high alert in Rahim Yar Khan as a flood wave is expected to reach Head Panjnad in Indus River on September 11.
Over 800,000 cusecs peak flood is also expected to reach Chachran Sharif around on midnight September 10.
On the orders of the district administration, police and army personnel have started evacuating high-risk areas.
Rahim Yar Khan DPO Sohail Zafar Chattha has ordered Taranda Muhammad Panah, Shidani, Zahirpir Rukanpur, Abadpur, Bhong and Machka police to evacuate their areas.
So far 546 men, 473 women and 433 children have been taken to safer places.
Motorboats have been sent to areas where floods are expected. Police will operate these boats.
A police control room has been set up under the supervision of DSP Abdul Rahim Leghari.
Police have established 11 checkposts in the areas to stop people from returning and to deal with any criminal activity.
The Livestock Department has established 22 relief camps between Noorwalay and Machka, where free vaccination and medicines are being provided.
District Livestock Officer Dr Syed Sibtain said that each camp had two veterinary assistants. He said that 20 union councils on both sides of the Indus River were most vulnerable to flood damage.
Flood relief camps have been set up at government schools in Taranda Muhammad Panah, Gul Muhammad Langah and Bana Royia.
Similar camps have been set up in Sadiqabad, Rukanpur and Chachraan Sharif.
Multan:
The army has been put on high alert in Southern Punjab.
Multan Corps Commander Lt Gen Abid Pervez inspected arrangements in the Multan and Sahiwal divisions from the air and reviewed the safety measures being taken by the army in collaboration with the district governments.
He expressed satisfaction over the steps.
Pervez also chaired a meeting of military and civil officials to review the rescue operation.
Around 200,000 people have left their homes for safer places in four districts of Multan division.
Authorities have also ordered the closure of 84 schools located in high-risk areas and set up relief camps there.
The Multan Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education has cancelled the supplementary examinations for the matriculation candidates.
Multan DCO Zahid Saleem Gondal said that the administration would divert the flood waters in two directions to save Multan city.
He said the first flood wave would enter Multan division on Wednesday evening in Kabeerwaala.
Authorities are planning to protect the urban areas of Kabeerwala, Khanewal, Abdul Hakeem, Talamba and Rangpur from flooding in the Chenab River.
MNA Jamshaid Dasti has criticised the plans to breach dykes to save Multan, saying such a step would inundate Muzaffargarh district. “The government is planning to save only the areas where people voted for it,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2014.
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