‘Unprecedented rains surprised Punjab govt’

Govt received its first flood warning on September 1.

LAHORE:

Cabinet Committee on Floods Chairman Shuja Khanzada on Monday said the government had not expected the amount of rain received in the Punjab this year.

“Unfortunately, the heavy rains had a greater impact than expected,” he said.

He said the government had received its first flood alert on September 1 and second on September on 3.

“India informed us about river flows. Four Pakistani agencies are co-ordinating with the Indian government,” Khanzada said.

Khanzada was addressing a press conference with Food Minister Bilal Yasin and Punjab government’s spokesman Zaeem Qadri at committee room of the Services and General Administration Department on Monday.

He said the government was coordinating relief efforts the Pakistan Army. Khanzada said water discharge was at 1 million cusecs at Chenab.

“This is the highest volume of water ever carried by Chenab,” he said.

He said storm drains had burst in Sialkot, damaging homes and properties.

He said river flow was at 850,000 cusecs at Chinot Bridge.

“The capacity of Trimmu Barrage is 650,000 cusecs,” he added.

He said the Pakistan Army had used four helicopters during the rescue operation in four districts.

He said the government was hopeful that the situation would improve over the next 24 hours.

He said Lahore had received an unprecedented rain of 450 millimetres in 36 hours.

He said 300 millimetres rain was received in Sailkot in 36 hours.  Yasin said Rs100 million had been provided to each district administration to meet contingency expenditures arising due to flood and rains damage.

He said the Punjab government had provided 250 boats, 18,000 tents, 100,000 water bottles, 30,000 food hampers, 5,000 ration bags and 5,000 flour bags and 250 life jackets to district administrations to address problems of flood victims.

Yasin said the government had set up 190 health teams and 236 mobile health teams to vaccinate people at relief camps.  He said 259 relief camps for livestock treatment had been set up.

Qadri said nearly 1,166 houses were partially damaged and 352 completely destroyed.

He said the government was committed to flood rescue and relief activities.

He said there had been 131 deaths due to various roof collapses and electrocution during rains. He said nearly 126,660 acres land of standing crop had been deluged.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2014.