6,115 schools affected by floods

According to an Education Department report a total of 6,115 schools in the province have been affected.

A total of 6,115 schools in the province have been affected by the floods, an Education Department report available to The Express Tribune states. Of these, 418 have been badly damaged. According to the report, about 4,539 schools in southern districts are still inundated.

Of the total, 2,186 schools have been affected in Muzaffargarh, 1,400 in Mianwali, 1,244 in Rajanpur, 141 in Dera Ghazi Khan, 100 in Rahim Yar Khan, 90 in Multan and 19 in Bhakkar.

Rangers open a model town in Mahmood Kot:

Pakistan Rangers Punjab Director General, Yaqub Khan, on Wednesday inaugurated a model town for flood affected people of Mahmood Kot area in Muzaffargarh.

Khan said that the model town was part of Rangers’ efforts for the long-term rehabilitation of the flood victims. He said that Rangers’ officials have started undertaking rehabilitation work in five southern districts of the province. He said that they were providing food to 9,000 people everyday besides constructing nine model houses at a cost of Rs1,300,000.

Relief trucks stranded in Multan-DG Khan Road:

Several trucks carrying relief goods are stranded in the damaged portions of the Multan-DG Khan Road. Though the flood torrent has passed through the area, the road is still inundated in four-to-five feet deep water.

Road networks in Muzaffargarh, DG Khan, Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur have been badly affected.

Normal flow in River Sutlej

The water flow in River Sutlej at the Head Islam in Vehari was recorded at 28,000 cusecs on Wednesday. The administration said that the water level was normal and as no outflow was expected from Head Sulemanki so there was no threat of flood. Head Islam has a capacity of 50,000 cusecs.

Residents who had earlier vacated the area have started returning to their homes.

Governor visits Multan:

Governor Salmaan Taseer on Wednesday visited Multan to monitor the relief work. Talking to the media, he said that the government was working in collaboration with the NGOs for the rehabilitation of the flood victims. In the next phase, he said, the repair and construction of houses will be undertaken. He said that the federal government will provide Rs12,000 each to the flood-affected families in Layyah district under the Benazir Income Support Program. He said he had no complaints against the provincial government.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2010.