July 27, 2015

News

Fresh spate of flash flooding feared; death toll crosses 50
* NDMA says 26 people killed in KP, five in Punjab, seven in Balochistan and 13 people in Gilgit-Baltistan * Met office forecasts heavy rains in next three to four days

ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: More than 50 people have been killed and 773 houses wiped away by floods across the country so far, with the Meteorological Department forecasting heavy rains in vulnerable areas in the next three to four days, which may generate flash flooding and urban flooding.

According to a report issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday, 26 people have been killed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), five in Punjab, seven in Balochistan and 13 people in Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to the NDMA report, as many as 350 houses were destroyed in KP, 422 in Punjab and 101 in Balochistan.

A total of 113 relief centres have set up in KP and 105 in Punjab and other parts of the country. The Meteorological Department has forecast widespread rains with scattered heavy at times very heavy falls expected in different parts of the country from Sunday night to Tuesday. It warned that heavy rains may generate flash flooding and urban flooding in the vulnerable area, and therefore, all authorities concerned are requested to take precautionary measures accordingly.

The Met Office said well-marked seasonal low lies over southwest Balochistan and its adjoining areas with its trough extending south eastwards. Strong monsoon currents are penetrating into upper and central parts of the country and expected to continue during next two days. Monsoon currents are also approaching in southern parts of the country and are expected continue until Thursday. As a result, more widespread rain/thundershower with scattered heavy falls are expected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Malakand, Hazara, Mardan, Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Kohat divisions), Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Multan, DG Khan, Bahwalpur, Sahiwal divisions), Islamabad, Kashmir, Sukkur, Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad, Zhob, Sibi, Naseerabad divisions and upper FATA (Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai agencies), whereas scattered rain/thundershower is expected in Gilgit-Baltistan, Larkana, Quetta, Kalat, Makran divisions, Lower FATA (Kurram, north and south agencies) during the next 24 hours.

It also forecast widespread rain/thundershower with scattered heavy falls in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (Malakand, Hazara, Mardan, Peshawar, DI Khan, Bannu and Kohat divisions), Punjab (Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sargodha, Multan, DG Khan, Bahwalpur, Sahiwal divisions), Islamabad, Kashmir, Sukkur, Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad, Zhob, Sibi, Naseerabad divisions and upper FATA.

Meanwhile, massive rescue and relief efforts are underway for the people marooned in raging waves of flash floods that have hit Chitral in the last 10 days, killing 31 people and washing away homes, as no immediate break is in sight from the torrential rains.

Military helicopters were hovering over the flood-ravaged villages to pluck the affected people and drop food to them as local authorities are engaged in setting up makeshift shelters and food huts to provide them basic provisions of life. They are under instructions from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who himself visited the flood-affected area last week, and instructed the authorities concerned to make every effort to provide relief to the victims. For that, C-130 aircraft have been flown to the area to take food on an emergency basis.

According to reports, the rains and subsequent floods washed away more than 300 houses, 25 mosques, bridges, educational institutions, communication equipment and crops. Majgool, Wari Joon, Sehat, Gehat and Kasham are among the hard-hit villages.

Kalash Valley and Ganche are still disconnected from the rest of the country. However, the repair work on damaged link roads has been started.

As many as nine hydel powerhouses have also been damaged, while the Otol village has been completely washed away by floods.

At least 10 Mobile Utility Store outlets have been established for the affected people, while the permanent Utility Stores will be opened within two weeks, according to reports.

“All necessary grocery items will be made available in the mobile stores for the facilitation of flood victims,” Utility Stores Corporation Managing Director Sultan Mehmood told APP. The NDMA has already distributed 15 tonnes of dry ration, a tonne of mineral water bottles and one million aqua tabs (water purification tablets) in the flood-hit Chitral. Two C-130 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) are taking part in the operation, which besides airlifting the relief items to the area, have also evacuated 80 persons.

The ration includes flour, rice, pulses, oil, milk, tea, sugar and mineral water.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk



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