Lack of preparation for rains resulted in massive losses for the people.
MIANWALI: The morning of August 28 in Mianwali started with heavy rainfall. My city has not received sufficient rains for a very long time due to which, the weather had been very humid and everyone had been praying for rain. A few months ago, the Pakistan Meteorological Department predicted heavy rains in Mianwali but no suitable measures were taken to cope with the approaching situation. This lack of preparation resulted in massive losses for the people. The bank near the Indus River broke down, which resulted in the destruction of crops over a vast area. Several houses were also damaged, hence displacing people from their homes. The underpass that was constructed in the main city of Mianwali for the relief of people has now ended up affecting their mobility as it is overflooded, making it impossible for use by vehicles.
The district authorities declared an emergency situation due to which all schools and colleges were closed. However, whatever measures they took at the last minute proved futile as they were not equipped with any strategy to handle such a situation. I fail to understand why the authorities concerned did not initiate any safety measures when they had already predicted heavy rainfall in the district in advance. Our MPAs and MNAs seem to have no interest in what is happening in the district. The government must initiate programmes on an urgent basis so that in the future such natural calamities do not harm people’s lives in such an adverse manner.
Muhammad Uzair Niazi
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2012.
