COAS reaches Karachi, oversees rescue, relief op

RAWALPINDI:

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday reached Karachi where he was briefed about the flood situation in Sindh and Balochistan and response measures taken to help flood victims, the military said in a statement.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief will visit troops busy in rescue and relief efforts in both the provinces.

The statement said that an army flood-relief centre had been established at Headquarters Army Air Defence Command Rawalpindi to oversee and coordinate the national flood-relief efforts across the country in coordination with the Military Operations Directorate.

“Flood relief centres [are] being established in various parts of the country to assist collection, transportation and distribution of flood-relief goods to flood victims in various provinces,” it added.

The ISPR said that the troops are shifting people to safer places as well as providing shelter, meals, and medical care.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior issued a notification for the deployment of Pakistan Army troops in all four provinces in aid of civil administration.

According to a notification issued on Friday, on the requisition of the provinces, Pakistan Army troops will assist the civil administration in rescue, relief and rehabilitation works in rain- and flood-affected areas.

Pakistan Army troops are being deployed in the provinces under Article 245 of the Constitution. The approval for the move was taken from the federal cabinet.

Sindh

In Sindh, light rains were reported with Mohenjadaro (38mm) receiving the most rainfall, the military’s media wing said, adding that 13 individuals died due to incidents of structural collapse and drowning in Sanghar, Larkana and Khairpur.

In Qambar Shahdadkot, a small dam west of Warah was breached due to excessive water affecting 600 people.

Elaborating the army’s relief efforts, the ISPR said that the troops have established a tent village in Thatta for 60 families.

“Forward bases [are] still functional at Nagarparker, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Sangarh, Jamshoro, Mirpurkhas and Dadu districts for distribution of ration and relief items among the flood affectees.”

It said that three additional forward bases were established at Tando Allah Yar and Matiari where mobile medical teams were providing medical care in far-flung areas of the province.

In Kot Diji, army teams carried out dewatering operations and also distributed ration bags. In Khairpur, an evacuation operation was carried out by the troops and ration packets were distributed.

Dewatering operation was conducted by the army troops in Naushahro Feroze also whereas cooked food and relief items to flood affectees were provided in Dadu.

In Sanghar, a field medical centre was established and more than 136 patients had been treated. Rescue operations to evacuate stranded individuals were carried out in Qambar Shahdadkot, according to the ISPR.

Balochistan

The statement said that intermittent rains were reported across the province with Sibi (69mm) receiving the maximum. Due to raised water level on Yaro Causeway, traffic on N-65 was temporarily halted.

In Jaffarabad, train service was suspended due to damage to Hirok bridge between Kolpur and Mach. Road connectivity of Chattar and surroundings from Dera Murad Jamali was temporarily disrupted. In Khuzdar, the movement of traffic was restricted on M-8 at Wangu due to landslides and maintenance work.

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The ISPR stated that five field medical camps were established in the province. In Jhal Magsi, a relief and dewatering operation was under way in Gandhawa city, where 250 ration packets as well as cooked food was provided to 110 flood affectees.

Rescue and relief operation was in progress in Naseerabad where 500 individuals were shifted to relief camps and 200 ration packets were distributed.

Punjab

At least 300 individuals were evacuated to safer locations in DG Khan and 2,000 patients have been treated so far. Fifty relief camps had been established in flood-affected areas whereas 5,562 individuals have been accommodated.

Overall, 38,242 ration packets had been distributed among victims in the flood-affected areas and 37,428 individuals were evacuated to safer locations.

According to the ISPR, two field medical camps had been established whereas one lady medical officer in addition to two medical officers had treated over 3,847 patients so far. Medicines of four days had also been provided to the patients.

Rescue teams with the necessary equipment (13 boots, OBMs, life jackets etc) were positioned in DG Khan for the execution of the rescue and relief operation.

“Rescue teams of the army with the necessary equipment (22 x boats, OBMs, life jackets etc) are positioned in Rajanpur for the execution of rescue/relief operation.”

The statement said that troops had been deployed in Taunsa and Rojhan as well along with necessary equipment.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

The ISPR statement said that Khwazakhela Charsadda, Nowshera and Risalpur were highly threatened due to very high water levels in the Swat River.

It said that an emergency had been declared in the most-affected districts due to recent floods. In DI Khan, flash floods occurred in all nullahs due to continuous rain in the catchment areas of the Indus River, resulting in disruption of road communication to Bannu, Tank, Zhob and DG Khan.

Roads and bridges on N-95 and N-90 were in a critical condition from Bahrain to Kalam due to heavy rainfall in the Swat River, adding that Kalam-Bahrain road had been temporarily blocked and clearance was likely in the next two to three days.

The ISPR stated that Kaghan and Naran bridges over river Kumhar at Mahndri were washed away due to the heavy flow of water.

It said that rescue operation was carried out by the army in DI Khan in which 13 individuals were rescued. Nine relief camps were also established whereas 1,110 ration packets were distributed among the affected people.

According to the statement, female medical centres had been established in Rori and Maddi villages where 600 patients were being treated. A medical camp was established at Darazinda where 400 locals had been treated.

“Army troops are assisting civil administration in the removal of debris and opening of blocked roads in Swat,” it added.