Flood alert issued in wake of unprecedented rainfall

Heavy rains have also damaged standing wheat crops in DG Khan

DERA GHAZI KHAN: The water level of hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan district has increased exponentially due to unprecedented rainfall over the past three days. In the wake of the situation, the district administration has issued a flood alert in the area.

Meanwhile, the rainfall has also affected crops sown on hundreds of acres of land. Farmers have demanded that the government provide them financial aid during this crisis.

Reportedly, Dera Ghazi Khan district received heavy rainfall during the past few days. As a result, the water level hill torrents and mountainous drians such as Wador, Sanghar Wahwa and Sakhi Sarwar, has steadily increased, damaging standing wheat crops located in their proximity.

Farmers claimed that an entire year’s worth of hard work has been swept away by the rain due to the delay in purchasing wheat by the district administration. They maintained that the government should survey these areas and should take document the losses incurred by the farmers while also compensating them.

On the other hand, the district administration has issued a flood alert in the area and has instructed individuals living near hill torrents to move to a safer location. Apart from damaging crops, the continuous heavy rains have also claimed a life.

A man, identified as Ghulam Yasin, was killed after the roof of his home collapsed near Turman Checkpost, Noor Ahmed Wali in Taunsa Sharif on Monday. Rescue workers shifted Yasin to a hospital where he breathed his last.

Meanwhile, while presiding over a meeting on Sunday, Deputy Commissioner Mian Mohammad Iqbal Mahar said that a flood warning has been issued in Dera Ghazi Khan district due to unprecedented rainfall in the region over the past few days.

An emergency has been declared in hospitals while the leaves of all doctors and paramedical staff have been cancelled. Further, ten control rooms have been established across the district while early flood warning systems have been installed by the meteorological department and the irrigation department at five locations.

He added that the National Disaster Management Authority has issued a high alert in the province, especially in Dera Ghazi Khan division. Reportedly, the situation will prevail until Wednesday and the district administration has been directed to complete all the possible arrangements.

The deputy commissioner added that announcements have been made regarding the evacuation of those living near hill torrents and in low lying areas in the district’s tribal areas. Staff will be deployed along mountainous routes to give timely reports about the water levels in the drains and hill torrents, he said.

He stated that the meteorological department and the irrigation department will be in contact with staff from the early flood warning systems. In order to deal with possible flooding, the deputy commissioner directed officials concerned to submit a field emergency plan by completing arrangements for relief camps, food for victims, vaccinations for animals and other arrangements on an emergency basis.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Mian Ghulam Rasool, Additional Deputy Commissioner Farhan Mujtaba, Kot Chatta Assistant Commissioner Abdul Gaffar and other officials were also present during the meeting.