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August 25 , 2023
PDMA Alerts Authorities in Parts of Punjab Citing High Flood in Sutlej at Islam Headworks
Lahore: The flood level in Sutlej at Islam Headworks increased to high late on Thursday, with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in Punjab saying the water level at the point had surpassed 120,000 cusecs.
Earlier in the day, updates by the PDMA and Flood Forecasting Division showed the river was in medium flood at the location.
Keeping in view the latest situation, the PDMA issued alerts to the local administrations in Lahore, Sahiwal, Multan, Bahawalpur, Kasur, Okara, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Vehari and Lodhran.
The authority’s statement quoted Director General Imran Qureshi as saying that all arrangements had been made to deal with any emergency and the situation was being monitored round the clock from the PDMA’s control room.
Meanwhile, the statement added, Sutlej was in medium flood at Sulemanki Headworks and Ganda Singh Wala.
Earlier tonight, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said the flow of water in Sutlej could rise in the coming five to six days due to the possible release of water by India.
The NDMA urged the PDMA to ensure the evacuation of people from low-lying areas that could be affected by the flood in Sutlej.
The PDMA and Pakistan Meteorological Department have warned that the water level in the Sutlej River may rise further over the next 24 hours after rains in the upper catchment areas.
Meanwhile, official data had shown rescue teams have evacuated 81,136 people and transported 148,284 to safe locations from July 9 to Aug 23 in the 22 flood-hit districts of the province.
Besides, 16 people had lost their lives and 36 were injured due to high flood in riverine areas, Rescue 1122 had said.
Previously, Qureshi said in a statement that steps were being taken to inform the public about any emergency situation arising.
“Apart from social media, TV, and newspapers, awareness campaigns are also being conducted through announcements in mosques,” he had said, stressing that district administration in vulnerable areas should ensure a ban on bathing in rivers. - Dawn
The Express Tribune adds: Sutlej Flooding Renders Thousands Homeless in Vehari
Vehari: The Sutlej River continues to experience high-level flood in the Vehari district. Several houses collapsed on Thursday rendering thousands homeless and forcing others to evacuate their villages. The road links between many settlements were also dismantled.
The water is now rapidly approaching the urban areas.
Besides rescuing those stranded in the deluge the district administration is providing adequate facilities to the flood victims at the tent villages and flood relief camps.
More than 150 villages and thousands of acres of standing crops had been deluged after a protective bund caved in. Mauza Bhattian and Qadir Bux bunds also developed a breach.
The floodwater entered mauzas Koda, Baqir Shah, Jatira, Mehro Baloch, Lakha, Khachi, Rafiq Tajwana, Fateh Shah, Basti Piranwali, Mughla, Palah, Sharifa, Tiwana, Nawaz Shah, Saldira Hatthar, 39 KB, Murad Ali, Naimat Ali, Fatehpur, Urwati, Ghauspur, Ganeshpur, Muradpur, Qutbpur and other places and caused great havoc.
Several houses in these mauzas were destroyed and valuable good swept away while men and women along with children were stranded in the floodwater.
There are numerous areas where relief activities could not be started by the district administration and people are living under open sky without any help.
The district administration has set up tents for flood victims at three locations and claims that more than 4,000 people have been evacuated.
In Bahawalnagar district, a high-level flood at Head Sulaimanki has been reported and several temporary bunds and roads have caved in with land routes to more than 80 villages cut off.
Meanwhile, a Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) spokesperson maintained that a total of 583 villages had been affected by flooding in Sutlej River.
He said 966 rescue workers had been working in the affected districts and 92 medical camps had been set up.
Giving numbers, the PDMA spokesperson mentioned that 56,560 people stranded in the floodwater had been rescued on emergency basis.
He said cooked food had been distributed among around 58,757 people so far and more than 18,371 victims had been evacuated to safe places.
The PDMA spokesperson stated that the monsoon system was expected to continue till August 27.
He said rain was projected in upper areas of all major rivers, adding that the flow of water in Sutlej River was likely to rise because of downpours. – The Express TribuneCourtesy The Express Tribune
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