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High alert declared to cope with 'Nilofar'
Shoaib says government buildings, schools have been evacuated for shifting coastal areas’ residents to safer places
APP
KARACHI - Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui has said that 80 relevant departments and institutions, including the Karachi Port Trust and coastguards, have been put on high alert through Rescue-1299 in the wake of possible risks posed by cyclone Nilofar.
Briefing journalists at his office here on the cyclone, the commissioner said that Section 144 has been imposed in coastal areas and picnics have been banned at the beaches. He said that the government buildings and schools have been evacuated for the shifting of the residents of the coastal areas to safer places. He said that special arrangements were being made in coastal areas of Ibrahim Haideri, Malir and Korangi.
Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC)Administrator Rauf Akhtar Farooqui, Managing Director Qutub Shaikh, PDMA director, Meteorological Department’s head and Municipal Services director general among others were present. Siddiqui further said that the cleaning of storm-water drains and removal of dangerous billboards from city roads have been started.
He said that the Sindh government’s first priority was to save lives and for this purpose arrangements for relief activities in Hawksbay, Sandspit, Bababhit, Manora and Ibrahim Haideri have been completed. The KMC administrator said that the city administration was taking all possible effective steps for the safety of the people, adding that joint actions by the KMC and the Cantonment Board were being taken to remove billboards along the Shahrah-e-Faisal and in the areas under KMC's jurisdiction.
He said that a state of emergency has been declared at all the hospitals of the KMC and the leave of doctors and paramedical staff have been cancelled. He also said that the KMC staff has been put on high alert in view of any possible risks.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk