Hill torrents wreak havoc again

Three bodies flowing from Balochistan found in DG Khan

DERA GHAZI KHAN:

Torrents flowing down from the Sulaiman Mountain Rage have again wreaked havoc across Dera Ghazi Khan district, flooding dozens of settlements, displacing more than 5,000 people and destroying hundreds of houses.

Relief activities have been intensified in the affected areas after the deputy commissioner imposed an emergency in the district and issued a high alert to all the departments concerned. The leaves of the employees have been cancelled.

Three bodies washed away in the flood channels from Balochistan were handed over to the heirs, while 10 people were injured when a tractor-trolley overturned in floodwater. District administration officials went to the affected settlements and distributed tents, food and other relief material among to the flood victims.

Division Commissioner Muhammad Usman Anwar made an emergency visit to the flood-affected areas of Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan and sent a preliminary report on the situation to Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.

He said Dera Ghazi Khan Deputy Commissioner Anwar Bariar was monitoring the relief activities in the affected areas of the district.

He told The Express Tribune that five flood relief camps and mobile hospitals were functioning in the affected areas. Mobile and stationed veterinary and health teams have also been formed.

Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi has also instructed the authorities to intensify the relief activities.

The commissioner said over 4,000 people had been rescued from floodwater in Taunsa tehsil.

Commissioner Usman Anwar said that a record flood of 268,500 cusecs had been reported in the Sanghar torrent. Basti Mangrotha, Kuchle, Sokar, Mandarani, Mauza Bodu, Ada Arain, Lal Shah, Basti Habib, Kotla Mirani, Thala Chakki, Dagarwali and several other areas have been submerged.

Government teams will start surveying the damage after carrying out relief work in the affected areas. Deputy Commissioner Bariar said more than 5,000 people were being provided food in the flood-affected areas. More than 2,000 food hampers and 1,500 tents have been distributed among the victims so far. He said the bodies of three people of Musa Khel who had drowned in floodwater had been retrieved from hill torrents flowing from Balochistan and handed over to the heirs.

The official said the district administration would strive to help every resident of the flood-affected areas until the crisis was over.

Educational institutions and government buildings in Taunsa have been declared flood relief camps and opened for the victims.Taunsa Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Asad Chandia and revenue officers were also present in the field.

The official said all the departments concerned had been instructed to remain alert in view of a forecast of a new spell of rains from Monday to Thursday.

Regional Police Officer Muhammad Saleem Chaudhry also issued special instructions to his team to help the flood victims of Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan deal with the emergency situation.

Personnel from the local police stations and additional staff helped in shifting the displaced people, including the children and elderly, to safe places along with their belongings.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and Rescue 1122 personnel saved 21 people from floodwater in Taunsa during a night-time operation.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2022.