News
Monday, August 19, 2013
Mass evacuation as floods affect 300,000, kill 108* Tarbela Dam spillways opened
* Localities along River Indus got vacated
* 200,000 cusec floodwater in Chenab
* PM directs NDMA chairman to reach Chitral
ISLAMABAD: Heavy monsoon rains have triggered floods affecting more than 300,000 people across the country in the last two weeks and killed 108 others, disaster management officials said Sunday. People in low-lying areas near the flooded rivers have been asked to move to safer places.
“The rains affected 334,764 people, killed at least 108 people and wounded 104,” a senior National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) official told AFP. The rains have hit 770 villages and completely destroyed 2,427 houses across Pakistan, he said.
The NDMA has established 44 relief camps in flood-hit areas to accommodate affected people, the official added.
Spillways of Tarbela Dam were opened after the water level reached an alarming level there. Sirens were sounded before opening of the spillways and people living in the vicinity of the dam were directed to shift to safer places, Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Rajanpur district administration got localities along the Indus River vacated as water level remained only four feet below an embankment from Jampur to Bait Sontra. Rajanpur DCO Ghazi Amanullah told APP that water level was rising continuously in the river as 468,048 cusecs floodwater was passing through Taunsa Barrage and 78,990 cusecs floodwater from Head Punjnud.
He said that efforts were underway to protect the embankment near Umer Kot at Basti Bhagser.
On the other hand, a flood wave of 2,849 cusecs in Koh-e-Suleman was reaching barren lands. The DCO said that rescue teams had been sent to nearby areas of the River Indus to handle any untoward situation. He said that rescue teams were shifting people to safer places and also participating in relief activities. He said that food items were being distributed among flood victims of the area.
There was medium-level flood in the River Indus in Chashma-Taunsa stretch. According to the Federal Flood Commission, there was low flood in the River Sutlej at Head Sulemanki whereas the River Jhelum was flowing normal.
The River Kabul was in low flood at Warsak and there was a medium flood in the river at Nowshera.
About 200,000 cusecs floodwater in the River Chenab was crossing Kabirwala area.
According to sources, there was a high-level flood along Fazil Shah and Jhok Azam embankments while standing crop was also damaged in the river belt.
Rescue teams moved people of these flooded areas to safer places while the district administration has set up seven relief camps.
Separately, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed the NDMA chairman to immediately visit the flood-affected areas of Chitral and coordinate rescue and relief efforts there. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk