Flood victims offered tent cities near homes

Temporary helipad set up at relief camp in Jhang

LAHORE:

Tent cities for flood victims have been set up near homes in the affected areas of Punjab.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif was informed during a briefing that a tent city has been set up along with a flood relief camp in Athara Hazari tehsil of Jhang district.

Officials said arrangements have been made to provide accommodation and food to flood victims in the tent city. Doctors and medical staff are also present and free medicines are being provided to patients in flood relief camps.

A temporary helipad has also been made in the flood relief camp to deal with emergencies.

The chief minister was informed that tent cities have also been set up for flood victims in Kot Khaira and Government High School Ahmedpur Sial, where arrangements for children and women have been made separately.

She was informed that thousands of villages in 32 districts of Punjab had been affected by unusual flooding in five rivers. 3,338 rescuers on 806 boats are involved in rescue operations across the province.

According to an official statement, more than 918,000 people across Punjab had been shifted to safe places before the biggest flood of the province's history hit it.

Rescue operations are still under way in various areas to save people and livestock.

The chief minister was informed that 21,620 people and 611,000 animals had been evacuated safely in the last 24 hours.

The victims residing in relief camps are being served meals thrice a day.

Rescue teams are also providing food door-to-door in flood-affected areas by using boats for travelling.

The chief minister was informed that food is being delivered to thousands of families living in their homes in flood-affected areas.

Supply of dry ration to flood victims across the province has also begun on the instruction of the chief minister.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said no flood-affected person should be deprived of food.

She was informed that special breakfast had been arranged for families residing in flood relief camps at Dhakar Farm Pakpattan, Fazil Shah Khanewal, Sahiwal and in other areas. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said fodder for livestock was also being provided in Burewala and other flood-affected areas, besides distribution of food and dry ration in affected areas of all tehsils of Bahawalnagar district located on a river belt.

She said milk was also being provided to young children of affected families in relief camps of Tehsil Shujaabad, besides the provision of food and ration in flood-affected areas of Kabirwala.

Through a statement issued on Tuesday, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Haji Hanif Khan, father of MPA Malik Ahmad Saeed and maternal uncle of Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan. She extended her heartfelt sympathies and condolence to the bereaved family.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also expressed grief over the demise of senior actor Anwar Ali. She paid tribute to the deceased for his invaluable services in art and culture.