Rain-related fatalities: ‘Govt alert on flood situation’

Three people were killed in accidents in Narowal during the week.

LAHORE: Home Minister Shuja Khanzada said on Saturday that Rs500,000 compensation had been announced for relatives of each of the three people killed in rain-related accidents in Narowal.

Khanzada was speaking at a meeting of the flood cabinet committee at the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). He said the initiative had been taken following a directive by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Khanzada said it would continue to intermittently rain across the province in the forthcoming days.

He said the Irrigation Department and district authorities had been constantly monitoring the flow of water in rivers, canals and drains.

Khanzada said unsubstantiated news had been creating panic among the people. He said such information should not be proliferated till it had been authenticated by relevant departments. Khanzada said there was a blanket ban on bathing in rivers, canals and drains across the province. He said authorities had been directed to take strict action against those guilty of flouting the ban. He said information regarding the flow of water in rivers could be obtained by calling the Lahore Flood Warning Centre.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2015.