Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Rain and Flood Devastation

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Muzaffargarh canal bunds breaches, water enters city
MUZAFFARGARH: Kot Addu Power Plant is at risk with heading towards it, as the protective embankment of a canal breached in Muzaffargarh, Geo News reported Tuesday.

Also, the heavy traffic coming from three provinces has been disallowed entrance into Punjab from Dera Ghazi Khan.

The water which broke from breached Muzaffargarh Canal has posed threat to Oil Refinery, oil depot and Kot Addu Power Station producing 1400 Megawatts, as water is just a kilometer away from Kot Addu Power Plant.

A flood tide is heading from Kot Addu Canal to the city. Directives have been issued to evacuate the people from Muradabad to safer places.

The Kot Addu Section railway track from Multan to Rawalpindi, has been shut down.

Over 20,000 people are still stranded in floodwater in Daira Dinpanah. Kot Addu, Layyah Road and Kot Addu-Taunsa Road have also been closed. The administration has set up two relief camps in Kot Addu.

The lashing rains which continued for several past hours now, added to the hardships of the affectees in Taunsa, Jampur and Rajanpur.

The flooding in Dera Ghazi Khan inundated various areas including Sadar Din, Jok Itra, Ghausabad, Jampur and Taunsa. At least three people were swept away in a Taunsa area.

The water tides from Suleman Mountain Range are advancing towards Rajanpur and Taunsa. Another great deluge is passing through Indus Highway at Tabbi Qasrani.

According to Irrigation Department, the water is gradually receding in Chenab River near Multan and Muzzafgarh. Also, three children were swept away in flood tide.

The crops got ruined at the Trimmu Headworks where over 100 villages were submerged under water emanating from Jhelum River.

Shahbaz on foot to supervise relief work until rehabilitation
SARGODHA: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif vowed to supervise the relief activities until the people affected by the flooding go back home, Geo News reported Tuesday.

Talking to journalists while visiting the affected area in Shahpur of Sargodha, he said he showed up in the area not on any election campaign; instead, he came to Sargodha to extend aid to the flood-hit people.

Shahbaz Sharif distributed the relief cheques among the flood affectees and the bereaved families of the flood victims.

The Chief Minister also ordered an inquiry against an SHO of Shahpur Police Station after suspending him on public complaint.

Survey begins to gauge losses after flood
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti said a survey has been kick-started to estimate the losses in the aftermath of flooding across the province, Geo News reported Tuesday.

Talking to media while visiting a relief camp established at a school here, he said the world community as well as the federal government has been approached to extend aid for the rehabilitation of the adversely affected people.

The CM Hoti said the devastations caused by the flash floods in the province, are beyond any calculation, adding he issued directives to conduct a survey to assess the losses in the wake of mass scale destructions and devastations by the flash floods.

Amir Hyder Khan Hoti said the medical teams are rendering services in the affected areas including relief camps and the affectees are being provided with free medicines.

Flood may hit one million in Sindh: DMA chief
KARACHI: At least eight to ten lakhs of people of Sindh living on banks of the river might be affected by the flooding in the province, Disaster Management Authority Sindh’s Director General Salih Farooqui said Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference here, Salih Farooqui said the protection of the embankments and evacuation of the people to the safer places, are the foremost priorities.

Sindh chief of Disaster Management Authority said the residents do not want to quit their areas to be relocated; but, the public representatives are being sought to get the job done.

Farooqui said the locality of 20,000 heads in Sukkar, is at stake from the flash floods, adding Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force have been incorporated in the Relief Operations.

Pak Army relief operation continues in KP
PESHAWAR: The flood began to recede after wreaking havoc in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa amid the ongoing relief operation by the armed forces of Pakistan in areas affected by floods, Geo News reported Monday.

However, thousands of people are still awaiting relief in several areas.

Pak armed forces continue their operation in Dera Ismail Khan’s affected areas, where two relief camps have been set up for the victims in Paharpur and Dera Bakhar.

Thousands are still trapped in various flooded areas. Various villages in Tehsil Parova are cut off with thousands of marooned people waiting to get relief.

Ground communication links of several villages remain disrupted, rendering thousands of people, including women and children, stranded. Meanwhile, Pak Army has deployed three boats to rescue 400 families stranded in Thatta Balochan area of Paharpur.

In district Charsadda, 500 relief camps have been set up which are providing shelter to hundreds of thousands of flood affectees while a government survey is underway to assess the damage unleashed by the devastating rains and floods.

A committee has been set up under the supervision of Barrister Arshadullah to oversee the ongoing relief activities while 22 mobile medical teams are providing medical aid to the affectees in different areas.

People trapped in Kandia, Beer, Patan and Sapat areas of Kohistan for the past six days are still awaiting help.

Layyah declared calamity-hit; taxes waived
LAYYAH: The government of Punjab, declaring Layyah as calamity-hit, waived off agricultural taxes, abiyana (water tax) and maliya, Geo News reported Monday.

A special Relief Fund worth Rs15 million has been set up for flood relief operation.

Now, the flood is heading towards Muzaffargarh, DG Khan and Rajanpur, where special arrangements relating relief tents, helicopter service and boats, have been completed.

According to Punjab’s Relief Commissioner Akhlaq Ahmed Tarar, the provincial government issued Rs10 million each for Mianwali, Layyah, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur for the relief activities there.

The provincial government waived off the agricultural tax, abiyana (water tax) and maliya (Land Revenue tax) after declaring calamity status in all areas affected by the flash floods.

The government communique said at least 80 trucks packed with edibles and other goods have been sent to the flood-ravaged areas; while, the relief goods would be dispatched to affectees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir as well.

A Flood Control Room has been set up at Civil Secretariat, Lahore headed by Punjab’s Chief Secretary, where 21 officers of grade 18 to 20 have been deputed for relief and rehabilitation work.

The Punjab government said the flooding would impact at least seven districts from Attock to Rajanpur.

The erosion by River Jhelum in Khushab’s Tetri village, has posed threat to the local residents.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is today visiting the affected areas. He will inspect the relief activities and flood situation in the affected areas including Mianwali, Layyah and Jhang today.

The members of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Kamran Michael, Ajasam Sharif, Naveed Anjum and Chaudhry Allah Rakha left for Dera Ghazi Khan with relief goods worth Rs2.5 million.

Also, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan set up relief camps for the people hit by flash floods.

Flood response not adequate: Haji Adeel
KARACHI: Awami National Party leader Haji Adeel said the flood hit province has not received required help and the devastation was much larger than expected and the federal government has not yet declared the region 'calamity-hit'.
He was talking in a Geo News programme '1 say 2'.
He said the United Nations' figure of one million affectees was initial, and the real number may touch five million, adding that at least 150 bridges have been washed away.
'If the province doesn't get appropriate response then our entire development funds will be diverted to rehabilitation', he said.
River Sindh flood submerges several villages

KARACHI: Flood in River Sindh inundated villages in Katcha area as relief operation of Pakistan army is underway in affected areas. 
The inflow of water at Guddu Barrage is 2,92,890 cusecs and outflow is 2,79,738 cusecs. Several villages submerged in Katcha area as water level is on rise. Water level is also rising at Sukkur Barrage.

DDO Sukkur Muhammad Sameer said 20 relief camps have been established for the affectees. In Dadu, district administration has imposed emergency and started evacuating of people whereas 41 camps have been set up in the area.

On the other hand, Provincial Minister for Fisheries Zahid Bhargari said high floods poses threat for the population of Hyderabad and Hyderabad, Qasimabad and taluqa Latifabad declared unsafe. He said irrigation department will be responsible for any probable damage.

Meanwhile, contingents of army have reached in sensitive areas of Kashmore,Larkana, Nawabshah, Thatta, Jamshoro, Dadu, Khairpur, Ghotki and Naushero Feroz.

40 villages swamped, as Taunsa Barrage surges

TAUNSA: The water level is persistently rising at Tausan Barrage, inundating over 40 localities in district Taunsa raising the number of total deluged villages and localities to over 200, Geo News reported Monday.
Section-144 has been put in place in Rahim Yar Khan in view of potential threat of flooding in the area.

The relief and rescue activities by the Pak Army are afoot to winch to safety the people stranded in flood tide. In Chhatro, flooding has left several families marooned. Pak Army’s operation to rescue them is on the go.

150 people riding a boat at Kotla Mirani in Indus River, has not been rescued thus far. The flood tide is heading from Taunsa towards Dera Ghazi Khan, where the administration began evacuating the people living on riverbank.

Meantime, Taunsa Barrage in Kot Addu tehsil of Muzaffargarh is witnessing flooding with high tide.

According to Irrigation Department, the embankments of the Barrage are being constantly supervised, where the raise in water level caused to surge water level in Layyah’s F North Bund by one foot.

According to DCO Layyah Javed Iqbal, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has provided a helicopter to inspect the affected areas.

According to DCO Rahim Yar Khan, the city is under imminent hazard of being inundated as Taunsa Barrage is persistently rising, adding Section-144 has been put in place in Rahim Yar Khan in view of potential threat of flooding.

He said a tide of 800,000 cusecs of water is raging through Chachran Sharif and the administration has been alerted.

The DCO said the people who are adamant in staying back in the flooded areas, would be forced out from there.

Nawaz urges President not to go on UK trip
NOWSHEHRA: Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif Sunday urged President Asif Ali Zardari not to undertake UK visit as planned at a time when the nation is undergoing a test due to heavy flooding.

During his visit to Nowshehra to assess the devastation caused by heavy floods in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Nawaz Sharif called upon the politicians to rise above political interests and to extend every possible help to the victims of the calamity. The government should utilize all the available resources to deal with the flood situation, he added.

“I have never seen such widespread devastation across the country including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa caused by the worst flooding in the country’s history,” the PML-N Chief noted.

He said no Pakistani should hold himself back from helping his fellow countrymen in this time of trial.

During his visit, Nawaz Sharif met with the affectees of the flood besides assessing the damage unleashed by the natural calamity.

Troops deployed in Rahimyar Khan
RAHIMYAR KHAN: Contingents of Pak Army have arrived in Rahimyar Khan to deal with any contingency in view of possible flooding of the city while a flash flood with 520,000 cusecs water is passing through Chachran.

DCO Rahimyar Khan Dr. Ahmed Javed Qazi told Geo News the Army has set up camps in Chachran Sharif, Tehsil Jamaldin, Sadiqabad in view of the possibility of floods entering the area.

Besides, Civil Defence is also all set to provide rescue services.

The DCO said that some of the locals living near the riverines have started shifting to safer places but so far no one has come for registration at the relief camps. 

Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway temporarily closed for traffic

ISLAMABAD: Motorway from Peshawar to Islamabad has been closed for traffic, causing a 15-kilometer long queue of vehicles.
According to the spokesman of Morway Police, the Motorway from Peshawar to Islamabad has temporarily been closed for traffic due to a damage caused by floods to a portion of the road near Charsadda bridge.

He said the Motorway will be reopened as soon as repair work is completed. 

Army Chief visits flood-hit areas
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Sunday undertook visit of the areas affected by heavy rains and floods.

According to ISPR, Gen. Kayani reviewed the relief works of Pak Army by visiting flood-affected areas of Nowshehra, Charsadda and Swat.

He directed that no effort be spared in helping the victims of worst floods in living memory of the country.

On the occasion, the COAS was briefed about the relief and rescue works being undertaken by the troops.

On his return, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani airlifted 17 people stranded by floods in his helicopter to shift them to safer places. 

CS Sindh issues directives to cope flood, rain situation
KARACHI: Chief Secretary Sindh Fazal-ur-Rehman has emphasized upon the Relief Commissioner, concerned administrative secretaries, Provincial Director Management Authority (PDMA) and all DCOs in Sindh to remain high alert in view of expected flood situation in Indus River.

Fazal-ur-Rehman maintained that all out efforts must be accorded to cope with expected flood, by strengthening and extending coordination and cooperation mutually as well, facilitating the affectees including the inhabitants of katcha areas and lower areas/coastal areas.

He noted that provision of food/ residential facilities including medical aid and assistance through respective points and hospitals/dispensaries, RHCs/BHUs must be arranged to the satisfaction of affectees.

The Chief Secretary also advised the secretaries and DCOs to maintain liaison with departments responsible for provision of water and sewerage and electricity facilities.

He added that rain/flood emergency centers and control rooms should also be activated 24 hours.

He also advised for adequate traffic arrangements to facilitate the people and ensure smooth flow of the traffic.

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