District admin on high alert to cope with flood

Administration cancels leaves of staff of all relevant departments to deal with the threat

RAWALPINDI:

The district administration’s departments concerned are on high alert to cope with flash flood in Nullah Leh during monsoon. They have taken solid steps to deal with any emergency.

The district administration has canceled the leaves of all the staff of Rescue-1122, health department, allied hospitals, Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Civil Defense and Solid Waste Management Company under plan finalised for monsoon.

The authorities concerned had also finalised arrangements for overhauling of machinery, leaning of sewerage lines and setting up of flood response units. The first phase of cleaning work of Nullah Leh has been completed, said RDA/WASA Chairman Tariq Murtaza. Earlier in June, Rescue-1122 conducted flood mock exercise at Rawal Dam to finalise its preparation for monsoon.

Read Residents along Nullah Leh move to safe places

WASA, Civil Defense and othaer departments concerned also took part in the exercise. The primary purpose of the exercise was to prepare for floods or any kind of emergency during monsoon rains, said WASA Managing Director Raja Shoukat Mehmood. He added that the professionalism of the staff and testing machinery, including suction machines, jetting machines and de-watering sets, was the main reason for the activity.

The emergency service Rescue-1122 is fully equipped to cope with the flash flood in the Nullah Leh. According to a Rescue 1122 spokesperson, the rescue staff would remain on standby to provide timely emergency response to the flood victims, particularly in low-lying areas. The Rescue-1122 has requested the citizens not to stand on the banks of the nullahs during flood situation and follow instructions issued by the flood control room.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2021.