A breach at the Aik torrent near Rangpura, (left) Flood water in a residential area of Rangpura (right). PHOTOS: PPI
According to the Met Office, a flood of moderate intensity is expected in the Dera Ghazi Khan hill torrents on Thursday-Friday. Moderate floods could also occur along tributaries of the Rivers Chenab and Ravi from July 29 to July 30.
Relevant authorities have been told to remain on high alert.
Gujranwala Commissioner Capt (r) Muhammad Asif, MPA Chaudhry Ikraam and DCO Asif Tufail visited flood-hit areas in Sialkot on Thursday.
At Jodhay Wali the commissioner said that the government would provide flood victims all possible help. He inspected relief activities for flood victims and directed the authorities concerned to ensure that sufficient tents, food, medicines and other necessary items were available for flood victims.
MPA Ikraam lauded the water rescuers (Rescue 1122) who had helped rescue 37 people in Pakki Kotli and Aimanabad Road.
Water flooded these areas after breaches occurred at seven points along the bank of Aik torrent. The Sialkot district administration said that the breaches had inundated Sialkot city and 11 villages in Daska tehsil.
Water flooded into 40 villages in Pasrur tehsil following a breach in the protective dyke at Dek torrent, near Dariya Nangal village. Assistant Commissioner Zaheer Liaqat said paddy and fodder crops on hundreds of acres of land were badly affected.
Officials said 16 Bajwat villages were flooded after River Ravi broke bank near the villages. They said 20 villages including Dariya Bider Neewaan, Harnah, Machchraala, Chakraala, Oochraan, Raajhan, Chaki, Nandipur and Bahadarpura were inundated after the water broke bank at Neel Waan, near Head Marala. Nine villages in Chaprar-Sialkot were flooded.
Dera Ghazi Khan DCO Nadeem ur Rehman said on Thursday the repair and construction of safety bunds and spurs in the district would be completed on an emergency basis.
Monitoring teams will be formed at sensitive areas to monitor flash floods and flood water, he said.
MPA Sardar Mehmood Qadir Khan Leghari said the government had allocated Rs2 billion for precautionary measures and relief activities this year. “We will also take steps to limit soil erosion by the Indus River.” He said construction work on most of the spurs was in its final stages. “Rs300 million has been allocated to line the canals in my constituency.”
The Shujabad canal division has set up five flood camps at safety embankments. Irrigation officers said that the camps had been set up at Chenab Bund, Akbar Bund, Nagi Bund, Jalalpur Khakhi Bund and Baloch Wah Bund.
The relevant SDOs have been told to supervise arrangements at the camps till September 30. There are 14 safety embankments along River Chenab in the Shujabad canal division area, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2016.
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