Flood relief: Premier Nawaz Sharif unveils Rs1.3b for Isakhel

Conducts aerial survey of Mianwali district; orders end to power cuts in camps

ISLAMABAD/ ISAKHEL:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced on Saturday a flood relief package of Rs1.3 billion for Isakhel tehsil during his visit to Mianwali district.

Out of the total package, he said, a sum of Rs200 million has been set aside for potable water and other developmental projects in Isakhel.

The premier conducted an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas of Mianwali and expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives and properties.

He ensured flood victims that all necessary measures would be taken for preventing floods triggered by hill torrents.

He added nothing could compensate the loss of seven lives due to heavy rains and floods, but “the government stands united with the people in their hour of grief”.

The premier expressed annoyance over power cuts in the area. He called a Water and Power Development Authority official up on stage and directed him to immediately restore electricity, adding that there should be no more power cuts in flood relief camps.

On the subject of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), PM Nawaz said the trade corridor would pass through Mianwali opening new vistas of prosperity and development and would also create numerous employment opportunities.

The PM was accompanied by other government officials, as well as members of the National Assembly and Punjab Assembly.

Mianwali District Coordination Officer Talat Mahmood Gondal briefed the premier on the flood damage, as well as the relief efforts initiated by the district government.

Flood death toll hits 179

Flash floods have claimed nine more lives in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 179, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

It is estimated that floods have affected 1,238,884 people across the country; however, the NDMA is in the process of determining the accurate number of people affected in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

In K-P, floods have killed 82 people, injured 68 others and damaged 3,544 houses. Meanwhile, 48 people have been killed in Punjab, 23 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 13 in Balochistan, seven in Gilgit-Baltistan and six in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Flood warning

The Indus River at the Chashma Barrage is likely to attain high flood level between 500,000 and 550,000 cusecs until 1pm on Sunday. The Indus River at the Kotri Barrage is also likely to attain high flood level between 450,000 and 550,000 cusecs in the next 10 days.

NDMA member Ahmed Kamal told The Express Tribune that flood-like situation would continue in the rivers for the next 15 days.

He said the current flood level at the Sukkur Barrage was too high and that at the Kotri Barrage it was high. Meanwhile, the third peak flood carrying around 750,000 cusecs is expected to pass through the Guddu Barrage on Saturday night and reach the Sukkur Barrage by Sunday night.

Sukkur Barrage control room in-charge Abdul Aziz Soomro said the season’s third peak flood might prove to be its last, following which all the rivers would start flowing as per their normal position.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2015.