Rain triggers fresh flood alert

DG Khan deluge affects 100k residents in 145 villages

DERA GHAZI KHAN:

A new spell of rains started in Dera Ghazi Khan on Thursday, while the bodies of three children who had drowned in floodwaters gushing from hill torrents were found.

The death toll from the devastating floods in the district rose to 10, while a search operation was under way for four missing people.

As fresh rains started, another flood alert was issued across the district. The floods have inundated about 90,000 acres of land around 145 villages, affecting more than 100,000 people.

The local authorities said light traffic had been restored after the repair of a breach in the Indus Highway.

The resumption of rains on the Koh-e-Sulaiman range triggered the danger of renewed flooding in the hill torrents, for which an alert was issued again in the district.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Anwar Briar told The Express Tribune that all the departments concerned had been instructed to be ready amid the fresh spell of rains, while preparations had been completed to deal with floods in hill torrents and streams.

A preliminary damage assessment report showed that 145 villages of Dera Ghazi Khan district had been affected by water flowing from the hill torrents, 10 people had died. The government made arrangements for the burial of the victims. More than 90,000 acres of land has been inundated and over 100,000 people of the district affected by the floods.

The deputy commissioner said the repair of Indus Highway at Chowkiwala had been completed to restore light traffic, while all other local road links could also be restored soon in the flood-affected areas if there was no new flooding.

However, he expressed fear that more rains were likely to bring water from Vador and Suilond hill stream. The river flow in the district has been cleared.

Relief camps have been established and 500 more tents delivered to the affected areas.

The victims are being provided tents in areas near their homes from where the water has receded.

The deputy commissioner said the flood victims would now be provided food and ration at their homes. Medical camps and a mobile health unit are also providing treatment facilities to the people in the affected areas, while veterinary mobile units of the livestock department are vaccinating animals to protect them from diseases. Fodder is also being provided for the animals.

The official appealed to the people not to let their children go out of their homes during rain.

He pointed out that several children had drowned in accumulated water in low-lying areas.

The departments concerned have also distributed mats, mosquito nets, clean water, soap and tissue paper among the affected people.

Deputy Commissioner Briar said 1,500 people had been evacuated from floodwaters in the district so far. Meanwhile, rescue workers retrieved the bodies of 14-year-old Muhammad Ilyas Burmani, eight-year-old Javaria and five-year-old Amanullah. They had been swept away by floodwaters a day earlier. The search for four other people was under way.

On the other hand, displaced people protested on Indus Highway after the staff locked a relief camp at f Basti Ahmadani after a quarrel with them. The administration and law enforcement agencies resolved the issue and provided food to them. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Khan Mohammad, a resident of Loharwala living in a flood relief camp, said, ”Our lifetime savings were swept away and the animals also died.” He said the government take steps for rehabilitation of the victims.

Allah Ditta of Basti Rustamani said his home had collapsed and he had to take shelter on the roadside.

A man staying in the relief camp of Basti Ahmadani said floodwaters had unexpectedly hit his area for the first time in half a century.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2022.