Armed forces continue relief efforts as death toll in flood-hit regions rise

PM Shehbaz's visit to K-P's Tank, DI Khan postponed

ISLAMABAD:

Efforts by the armed forces to provide relief to flood-hit regions across Pakistan continued on Sunday said the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR).

In a press release, the military’s media wing said: “Troops are busy in rescue, relief efforts apart from providing medical care and opening up communication infrastructure.”

It also informed that all rivers across Pakistan are flowing normally, except the Indus which is at a low flood in Attock, Tarbela, Chashma and Guddu.

Low flood is also being experienced at Warsak, while River Kabul has been in medium flood at Nowshehra.

Read: No safe way foreword on Indus

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Mardan recorded a maximum rain of 133mm due to which constant efforts to dewater various places in the district are currently underway.

On the other hand, Mohmand recorded 85mm of rainfall, which has resulted in several flash floods being reported in the local nullahs of the district.

In southern Punjab, hilly torrents are flowing normally except in Mithawan, Kaha and Sanghar, which have a relatively increased flow.

The ISPR stated that local commanders visited Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan where relief items were distributed among flood affectees along with medical camps being established in both the districts.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, two mudslides were reported near Sikandarabad but the road has been opened for one-way traffic by FWO.

Misery on Balochistan

With more monsoon gusts bearing down on the country, the death toll rose to 127 across Balochistan on Saturday evening as rescue workers found seven more dead bodies in Noshki, Lasbela, Chaghi and Zhob districts.

However, the ISPR reported on Sunday that in Jhal Magsi, complete connectivity to the Gandhawa district has been restored. “Relief activities are underway with 115 patients being treated at an army medical camp,” said the statement.

In Khuzdar, the army is working on the resumption of connectivity of the M-8 Motorway and 145 affected people were treated in a medical camp established by CMH Khuzdar and Frontier Corps in Hafizabad.

In Naseerabad, ration and cooked food are being distributed to flood victims, while the field medical camp in Gandakha is treating various patients.

Read More: Water flow in rivers normal: PDMA

In Noshki, over 100 people were served cooked meals and the N-40 Highway that had collapsed at three different sights was repaired and traffic resumed.

In Lasbela, five field medical camps are providing medical care in Naka, Bela, Duddar, Hub and Gadani. The N-25 was opened after repair, while work on a few bridges is still underway.

The ISPR statement also mentioned that the general commanding officer at Gwadar visited Hub and Uthal to review the relief work.

PM's visit postponed

Earlier today, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced on her official Twitter handle that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit the flood-affected areas in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan, K-P, to review the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts.

However, the scheduled visit has been postponed due to inclement weather.