‘2,300 houses damaged in DG Khan floods’

Commissioner says 14,112 people being provided food at relief camps

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Dera Ghazi Khan Commissioner Saqib Aziz said on Monday more than 2,300 houses had been damaged and 489,347 acres in 453 villages destroyed in recent floods.

He shared unofficial statistics on losses incurred during the floods. He said 286,254 acres of the affected land was agricultural. He said 103,376 people had been moved to safer places. As many as 953 relief camps and 162 medical camps had been set up, he said.

The commissioner said 14,112 people were being provided food in the relief camps. He said the flood-hit people would be compensated for their losses; a survey to assess damage was underway.

Aziz ordered that temporary bridges be set up to resume traffic. In Layyah, the authorities have moved the cattle to safer places. The Livestock Department is providing medical treatment to the cattle affected by the floods. The commissioner said 36 veterinary centres had been set up across the division. As many as 104,796 cattle had been vaccinated, he said.

Layyah DCO Gulzar Ahmad inspected veterinary centres in Kukterwala, Sarshasta Nasheb, Khokharwala, Government Girls Islamia High School, Government Girls High School, TDA Colony and Government MC High School.

Doctors and veterinary staff briefed the district livestock officer about treatment being provided to the cattle.

The Flood Relief Cell had recorded 346,000 cusecs flow at Terbela Dam, 362,000 cusecs at Kalabagh, 438,000 cusecs at Chashma Barrage and 520,000 cusecs at Taunsa Barrage. It said the River Indus situation was returning to normalcy.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2015.