Foolproof arrangements made to meet any emergency

The City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) has made foolproof arrangements to deal with any challenging situation due to flood in rainy season spanning on 90 days from July 1 to September 30.
All the CDGR departments were put on high alert and directed to make sure the prompt response in case of any emergency in any area falling near the Nullah Lai, the main cause of flooding in the city.
To review the arrangement, a high level meeting held under the chairmanship of DCO Rawalpindi, Irfan Elahi, which was attended by representatives from TMAs, Revenue Department, Metrology Department, Police, Sui Gas, Civil Defence, Rescue 1122 and Rawalpindi Cantonment Board besides all EDOs.
The meeting was informed that a special taskforce was constituted to keep vigil on water level in Nullah Lai. The taskforce would be provided assistance by Flood Control System installed in the city by Japanese government.
District Officer (Revenue) Asif Qureshi would function as head of the taskforce. The taskforce would also be responsible for making arrangements to evacuate the low-laying areas situated at embankments of Nullah Lai at the time of any emergency to secure the people from the flood.
The Civil Defence Department, Town Municipal Officer, Fire Brigade and Rescue -1122 would be attached temporarily with the taskforce that would work in dual shifts.
Military would also assist the civil administration in evacuating citizens from slum areas in rainy season as well as provision of basic necessities to them in case of flood.
Army's 111 Brigade would supervise relief operation and for this purpose city has been divided into four sub-sectors. A Major rank officer of the Pakistan Army will be in charge of each sector, including Gordon College, Gowalmandi, Ratta and Marreer.
The District government has also established two Flood Relief Camps at Government Islamia High School No 4 Liaqat Bagh and Federal Government Girls High School Gowalmandi while two reserve centers would also be set-up at Ratta Amral and Marrer Hassan.
In these camps all arrangements were made to accommodate the dislodged persons due to flood. Free of cost ration and healthcare facilities would be provided to the flood victims.
EDO (Health) would establish medical camps at flood relief centers as well as different vicinities of the city to avoid any untoward situation during the monsoon spell. Doctors and paramedic staff along with medicines would be available 24 hours at these camps. Different NGOs and Edhi Welfare Trust would also help the district government in relief work.
It is pertinent to mention here that Japan had installed a state of art Flood Warning and Control System in Rawalpindi with the cost of Rs360 million, which would warn the people in advance by blowing sirens repeatedly after determining the water level in the Nullah Lai.
The computerised system has two water level gauges installed at Gowalmandi and Katarian where the measurement of water level in Nullah Lai would be carried out automatically. First alarm would be aired when the water would cross the limit of 7.5 feet and second danger signal would be produced when water touches the height of 12 feet.
Ten warning posts have been established at Katarian, Pir Wadhai, Ratta, Moti Mahal Chowk, City Saddar Road, Gowalmandi, Arya Mohalla, Tipu Road, Dhoke Khabba and Marrer.