CM urges evacuation of unsafe buildings

Structural collapse largest cause of monsoon deaths

LONDON:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has expressed grief over the loss of lives in rain-related incidents across the province, urging the public to strictly observe safety precautions during the ongoing spell of rains and prevent children from bathing in floodwaters, canals and streams.

She also appealed to residents to evacuate dilapidated buildings to avoid any untoward incident.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners and other relevant officials to closely monitor unsafe and dilapidated buildings.

She also ordered continuous monitoring of rivers, canals and flood channels to ensure public safety.

She instructed authorities to ensure the immediate drainage of rainwater from streets, markets, roads and particularly underpasses. The chief minister directed the commissioners and other officers concerned across the province to actively supervise relief and drainage operations in the field.

She also emphasised the need to maintain smooth traffic flow during the rains.

At least eight people were killed and 37 others injured in accidents caused by rain and storms in Punjab during the past 24 hours.

Most casualties were caused by the collapse of roofs and walls following heavy rainfall in several districts.

In Gujranwala, three people were killed and 14 others injured in eight incidents of roof and wall collapse. In three other rain-related incidents, including electrocution, one person died and two were injured. A child also drowned in accumulated rainwater at an underpass in Kamoke.

In Pakpattan, two people lost their lives and two others were injured after the mud roof of a house collapsed.

In Sahiwal, a woman was killed when a roof collapsed in Kot Khadim Ali Shah, while three people were injured in a similar incident at a shop in Harappa.

In Lahore, four people were injured after the roof of a house collapsed near Gulshan Ravi on Bund Road.

In an incident on Manga-Raiwind road, an Urban Search and Rescue Team responded to the collapse of a roof. Four people were affected, of whom two were injured. One was shifted to a hospital by relatives, while Rescue 1122 provided first aid to 25-year-old Shahida before transferring her to the Raiwind Rural Health Centre (RHC).

Elsewhere, eight people were injured in separate roof and wall collapse incidents in Mandi Bahauddin, one person was injured after a shed collapsed near Al-Jannat Chowk on Khan Baba Road in Bahawalnagar, while three were injured in a roof collapse in Sialkot.

Rescue 1122 also reported incidents of partial landslides and fallen trees in Murree and Kahuta amid continuing adverse weather conditions.

An official statement claimed that the establishment of Water and Sanitation Agencies (WASA) in 41 districts with over 1,000 machines enabled swift drainage of rainwater across the province.

Rivers, dams and barrages are being monitored round the clock.

The CM directed authorities to ensure safety arrangements around rain-fed streams, low-lying areas, rivers and canals.

The chief minister appealed to the public to avoid visiting or bathing in canals, rivers and seasonal streams during the monsoon and possible flood situation. She directed district administrations to closely monitor weak and dilapidated buildings and urged citizens to stay away from structures at a risk of roof collapse.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), monsoon rainfall was recorded in most districts of Punjab.

The highest rainfall was recorded in Gujranwala at 250mm, followed by Sialkot 139mm, Mandi Bahauddin 138mm, Narowal 117mm, Hafizabad 85mm, Chakwal 70mm and Okara 64mm. Gujrat received 49mm of rainfall, Jhang 35mm, Layyah 33mm and Jhelum 32mm.

The PDMA reported that water levels stood at 57 per cent in Tarbela Dam, 38% in Mangla Dam and around 30% in the Bhakra, Thein and Pong dams.