PDMA warns of flooding in DG Khan

DCs of Taunsa, Rajanpur and other areas told to activate control rooms

LAHORE:

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director-General, Ft-Lt Imran Qureshi, has warned of the risk of flood situation in the rain-fed streams of Dera Ghazi Khan, connected to the Koh-e-Suleman Range, due to recent rains.

A circular has been sent to deputy commissioners of DG Khan, Taunsa and Rajanpur, asking them for making timely reporting of any flood-like situation in their respective districts.

Reports on losses caused by the recent rainfall have also been sought from the respective districts.

The director-general, in a press statement, instructed the deputy commissioners concerned to activate their control rooms and keep rescue teams on high alert to launch timely rescue operations in case of any emergency.

He said that emergency operation centres of all districts of Punjab, including the provincial control room of the PDMA, had been fully operational 24/7, and they were monitoring the situation at the provincial control room.

He said that preparations to protect people from flood-related disasters, as per the directives of the Punjab government, had been completed, and all relevant institutions' staff and heavy machinery had also been put on alert to ensure safety of life and property of people.

The PDMA director-general said that until Tuesday night, strong winds and the possibility of thunder and lightning, accompanied by rainfall, would persist in various parts of Punjab.

He said that Lahore, Islamabad, Murree, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Khushab, Mianwali, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sahiwal, and Bahawalnagar would also experience strong winds, and there was a possibility of thunder and lightning, accompanied by rainfall.

During this time, heavy rainfall and hail were expected at some locations, he added.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2023.