Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday reached Karachi where he was briefed about the flood situation in Sindh and Balochistan and response measures taken to help flood victims, the military said in a statement.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief will visit troops busy in rescue and relief efforts in both provinces.
The statement said that the army flood relief centre has been established at Headquarters Army Air Defence Command Rawalpindi to oversee, and coordinate the national flood relief efforts across the country in coordination with Military Operations Directorate.
“Flood relief centres [are] being established in various parts of the country to assist collection, transportation and distribution of flood relief goods to flood victims in various provinces,” it added.
The ISPR said that the troops are shifting people to safer places, providing shelter, and meals and are busy in providing medical care to flood affectees.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior has issued a notification for the deployment of Pakistan Army troops in all four provinces in aid of civil administration.
According to a notification issued today, on the requisition of the provinces, the Pakistan Army troops will assist the civil administration in rescue, relief and rehabilitation works in rain and flood affected areas.
Pakistan Army troops are being deployed in the provinces under Article 245 of the Constitution. The approval for the move was taken from the federal cabinet.
Sindh
In Sindh, light rains were reported with Mohenjadaro (38 mm) receiving the most rainfall, said the military’s media wing, adding that 13 individuals died due to incidents of structural collapse and drowning in Sanghar, Larkana and Khairpur.
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In Qambar Shahdad Kot, a small dam west of Warah breached due to excessive water affecting 600 people.
Briefing about the army’s relief efforts, the ISPR said that the troops have established a tent village in Thatta for 60 families.
“Forward bases [are] still functional at Nagarparker, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Sangarh, Jamshoro, Mirpurkhaas and Dadu district for providing ration and relief items among flood affectees.”
It said that three additional forward bases were established at Tando Allah Yar and Matiari where mobile medical teams are providing medical care in far-flung areas of the province.
In Kot Diji, army teams carried out dewatering operations and also distributed ration bags. In Khairpur, an evacuation operation was carried out by the troops and ration packets were distributed.
Dewatering operation was executed by army troops in Noshero Feroz also whereas cooked food and relief items to flood affectees were provided in Dadu.
In Sanghar, a field medical centre was established and more than 136 patients have been treated. Rescue operations to evacuate stranded individuals were carried out in Kambar Shahdad Kot, according to ISPR.
Balochistan
The statement said that intermittent rains were reported across the province with Sibi (69 mm) receiving the maximum rainfall. Due to raised water level on Yaro Causeway, traffic on N-65 was temporarily halted.
In Jaffarabad, train service was suspended due to damage to Hirok bridge between Kolpur and Mach. Road connectivity of Chattar and surroundings from Dera Murad Jamali was temporarily disrupted. In Khuzdar, the movement of traffic was restricted on M-8 at Wangu due to land sliding and maintenance work.
The ISPR stated that five field medical camps were established in the province. In Jhal Magsi, a relief and dewatering operation was underway in Gandhawa city, where 250 ration packets were distributed as well as cooked food was provided to 110 flood affectees.
Rescue and relief operation was in progress in Naseerabad where 500 individuals were shifted to relief camps and 200 ration packets were distributed.
Punjab
At least 300 individuals were evacuated to safer locations in DG Khan and 2,000 patients have been treated so far. 50 relief camps have been established in flood-affected areas whereas 5,562 individuals have been accommodated.
Also read: Flash floods: Nearly 200 perish as K-P govt imposes emergency in many districts
Overall, 38,242 ration packets have been distributed in flood-affected areas and 37,428 individuals were evacuated to safer locations.
According to ISPR two field medical camps have been established whereas one lady medical officer in addition to two medical officers have treated over 3,847 patients so far. Medicines of four days have also been provided to the patients.
Rescue teams with the necessary equipment (13 boots, OBMs, life jackets etc.) are preposition in DG Khan for the execution of the rescue relief operation.
“Rescue teams of army with the necessary equipment (22 x boats, OBMs, life jackets etc.) are prepositions in Rajanpur for the execution of rescue/relief operation.”
The statement said that troops have been deployed in Taunsa and Rojhan as well along with necessary equipment.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
The ISPR statement said that Khwazakhela Charsadda, Nowshera and Risalpur were highly threatened due to very high water levels in Swat River.
It said that an emergency has been declared in most affected districts due to recent floods. In DI Khan, flash floods occurred in all nullahs due to continuous rain in the catchment areas of river Indus, resulting in disruption of road communication to Bannu, Tank, Zhob and DG Khan.
Roads and bridges on N-95 and N-90 are in critical condition from Bahrain to Kalam due to heavy rainfall in river Swat, adding that Kalam-Bahrain road has been temporarily blocked and clearance is likely in the next two to three days.
The ISPR stated that Kaghan and Naran bridges over river Kumhar at Mahndri washed away due to the heavy flow of water.
It said that rescue operation was carried out by the army in DI Khan in which 13 individuals were rescued. Nine relief camps were also established whereas 1,110 ration packets were distributed among the affected people.
According to the statement, female medical centres were established in villages Rori and Maddi where 600 patients have been treated. A medical camp was established at Darazinda where 400 locals were treated.
“Army troops are assisting civil administration in the removal of debris and opening of blocked roads in Swat,” it further said.
Source link: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2373329/coas-visits-karachi-briefed-over-rescues-efforts-in-sindh-balochistan