NDMA issues ‘very high-level flood’ warning for Sutlej River
As the River Sutlej breaks its banks, residents of small hamlets in Bahawalnagar evacuate and move to higher grounds. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Monday advised the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Punjab, and the departments concerned to ensure prerequisite measures to protect vulnerable populations and assets as River Sutlej was likely to attain a “very high flood level”.
The NDMA issued a detailed advisory that underscored the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) stating River Sutlej at Ganda Singh Wala had fallen to a very high flood level and continued on a decreasing trend.
However, River Sutlej at Sulemanki was at high flood level in a rising trend and was likely to attain very high flood level; it was also likely to attain high flood level on August 22 from 6am onwards at Islam Headworks.
The vulnerable or at-risk districts include Kasur, Okara, Bahawalnagar, Pakpattan, Vehari, Bahawalpur, and Lodhran. It added that hot and humid weather with isolated rain-wind and thundershowers was expected to occur in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (Dir, Swat, Abbottabad. Malakand, and Galiyat) and in Punjab (Lahore, Sialkot, Narowal, Rawalpindi and Murree).
The NDMA mentioned that hot and humid weather with isolated rain was also expected in Islamabad Capital Territory and the same weather pattern was expected in Balochistan and Sindh.
In Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), dry weather was expected whereas isolated rain was expected in AJK along with dry weather.
The PDMAs were directed to ensure early warning and prompt response in vulnerable areas in light of wind-thundershowers (in areas indicated above). Moreover, the PDMAs should undertake regular public awareness on all media channels and social media to maximise the general public’s knowledge of risks associated with monsoon season; heavy rains, urban flooding, flash flooding, landslides, etc.
Read also: Over 23,000 residents evacuated as Sutlej roars
The district administrations were to ensure a contingency traffic plan for areas vulnerable to flooding in urban centres, catering for prompt de-watering operations in flooded areas.
The PDMA Punjab should ensure timely early warning and evacuation of all at-risk populace living downstream of Ganda Singh Wala, Sulemanki, and Islam Headworks on River Sutlej. The PDMA Punjab should ensure the provision of medical care and relief items to the displaced populace in camps.
The PDMA Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, PDMA Punjab, and State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) were to ensure early warning, prompt evacuation, and response in vulnerable low-lying areas downstream of Tarbela and Mangla dams in case of any emergent water discharges or flooding situation in light of present reservoir levels.
The GBDMA should ensure all necessary measures are being undertaken to mitigate and prepare against glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) incidents.
The rescue services, armed forces, and leading non-governmental and civil society organisations (NGOs and CSOs respectively) should ensure the availability of personnel and equipment in the indicated areas and be on standby for rapid response.
According to NDMA, so far, the persons evacuated and transported were 238,202 and livestock evacuated 17,334 whereas some 203 boats and 795 rescue personnel were deployed on the ground.
Chairman NDMA reviews damages
Meanwhile, Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik reviewed the situation of damages caused by the ongoing floods in Sutlej River, the situation of major dams, and the regulation of river flows during the ongoing monsoon spell.
The NDMA Chairman presided special National Emergencies Operations Centre (NEOC) session with key stakeholders on the current flood and monsoon situation, a press release said.
The session was attended by representatives of armed forces, PMD, Federal Flood Commission (FFC), PDMAs, SDMA, GBDMA, Flood Forecasting Division (FFD), Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Commission (SUPARCO), Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters (PCIW), Rescue 1122 Punjab, Tarbela and Mangla dam management.
The PMD briefed about the previous days’ rainfall observed in the country. They also apprised about the expected rainfall in the north eastern parts of the country from August 23 to 25.
The PDMA Punjab and Rescue 1122 Punjab briefed about the evacuation, rescue, and relief efforts conducted along the Sutlej River.
The FFD reported that Sulemanki Headworks would attain a very high flood level by August 22 and a peak in the flow of River Jhelum will be observed from August 23 to 25 which will affect the Mangla dam levels.
Read: Steps outlined to protect livestock during floods
The Mangla and Tarbela dam management briefed that the water level in dams and contingency measures are in place. The PCIW briefed about the mechanism in place for information sharing between Pakistan and Indian dam management.
The Chairman NDMA instructed relevant departments to carry out flood damage assessment and gather accurate data. He also instructed PDMAs, GBDMA, and SDMA to increase awareness among the masses about the remedial measures to be taken during the season and to monitor the changing situation vigilantly.
He reiterated that the settlements and encroachments in river beds of all major rivers must be cleared by all concerned to minimise the damages.