15 killed in Khairpur mosque roof collapse

Death toll from rain-induced floods in Taunsa Sharif reaches 18

KHAIRPUR/TAUNSA SHARIF: At least 15 flood victims were killed on Monday after the roof of a mosque collapsed in Khairpur while the death toll from rain-induced floods in Taunsa Sharif reached 18.

According to the police, the roof of a mosque collapsed near the Ahmedpur area of Khairpur, as a result of which 15 people died and 70 were injured. Police officials said that the flood victims had taken shelter in the mosque.

Torrential rains have wreaked havoc in various areas of Sindh including Khairpur. Hundreds of houses have been destroyed and deaths have occurred due to the rain-induced floods. Several areas are still submerged.

Further, rains have wreaked havoc in Taunsa Sharif and Mount Sulaiman where 18 people have died and more than 100 injured so far due to the caving-in of house roofs and flooding.

The floods have destroyed thousands of houses, washed away livestock, wiped out dozens of settlements, exposed more than 100 settlements to floodwater and submerged millions of acres of land.

All government schools in the flood affected area have been converted into flood relief camps. Adding to the misery of the people in flood-affected areas was the severe food shortage which resulted in its prices skyrocketing.

The rescue agencies were facing serious difficulties in the relief operation due to lack of access to land route.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the rescue and relief operation of Pakistan Army is also going on in Taunsa Sharif, DG Khan and Rajanpur.

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“In Taunsa, the elderly, women and children have been moved to a safe location by the military forces with the help of boats.”

The ISPR said Pakistan Army Medical Battalion troops are engaged in taking care of the sick and injured in medical campuses in DG Khan and Rajanpur.

“More than 3,000 patients have been provided free treatment facilities at the medical camps set up in Rajanpur.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) predicted "very high to exceptionally high level flooding" in the hill torrents of the DG Khan division, and rivers and nullahs of eastern Balochistan.

According to the FFC report, flows from the hill torrents of DG Khan Division may raise flow at Taunsa Barrage up to high to very high flood level from August 23 to 26, 2022.

It also forecast urban flooding in Sindh during the corresponding time.

Moreover, the report also highlighted a fresh strong monsoon activity in Sargodha, Peshawar, Kohat and DI Khan Divisions, as well as South Punjab and Balochistan including the upper catchments of river Indus and Kabul from August 23 to 26.

The FFC advised organisations concerned to ensure all the precautionary measures and round-the-clock patrolling of river embankments and training works including irrigation and drainage network. (With input from app)