Contingency plan to minimise disaster risks

ISLAMABAD:

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in consultation with all stakeholders devised Monsoon Contingency Plan 2021 to rectify hazards, vulnerabilities, risks and resource mapping for minimizing disaster risks and timely coordinated response.

Contingency Plan outcomes reinforce prevention, mitigation and response to monsoon related disasters.

Director General PDMA Sharif Hussain said, PDMA has installed flash flood Early Warning System (EWS) in the upper catchment areas.

This system has been installed on seven main rivers of the province at Swat River at Khawaza Khela, River Swat on Chakdara Bridge, at Panjkora River at Jabalot Bridge Unkor UC Bibyawar, Upper Dir, Munda Head Works, Abazai, Kalpani River, Mardan Ring Road Bridge, rivers, nullahs to monitor the water level and generate early warning intimation in order to protect the human lives.

The prime intent is to establish streams and rain gauges network in the hilly areas linked with computer-based model.

Early Warning System analyzes existing data with previous flash flood historical data and upon reaching a dangerous level the system generates alert signals which will ultimately activate Provincial Emergency Operations Center.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2021.