Flood season: Evacuation ordered after several hours of rain

District admin of Sargodha urges residents of colonies and villages near River Chenab to evacuate their neighbourhoods

SARGODHA: The district administration of Sargodha urged residents of several colonies and villages near River Chenab to evacuate their neighbourhoods and move to a safer location after heavy rains hit the district in the early hours of Saturday.

A spokesman of the district administration said police and Rescue 1122 teams had been sent to neighbourhoods in the near to help expedite the evacuation. “We have also asked mosque administrations to make announcements in this regard,” the spokesman said.

He said the evacuation had been ordered as a precaution. “Water level rose after it rained heavily for several hours this morning,” he said. “We want to ensure safety by helping residents move to safer areas.”

The spokesman said Health Department, Local Government Department and Irrigation Department teams had also been mobilised to oversee measures to cope with flooding.

He said a control room had been established to monitor the flood situation. “Public advisories will be issued through the control room. It will update the public about the latest weather report and the flood situation.”

The spokesman said the control room would also facilitate coordination between various departments during evacuation and relief efforts.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2016.