More than two hundred villages have submerged in flood water of Indus in Rajanpur,DG Khan, Layyah and Muzaffargarh and the residents of low-lying areas are being shifted to safe locations. On the other hand, torrential rains and flash floods have hit various villages and cities across the country, forcing the authorities to declare an emergency and issue alerts.
According to the NDMA and Met Office, flash floods wreaked havoc in Chitral, Rajanpur, Awaran and Ghotki, forcing residents to shift to safe locations while leaving behind their belongings and property, including livestock. The situation may worsen as the Met Office has warned that there would be a risk of flash flooding in the local streams and nullahs of Punjab, upper KP, eastern Balochistan and Kashmir during the next three days due to unstable weather conditions and significant monsoon rains. It also advised the people living in the low-lying areas along streams and nullahs to remain careful during that period. In south Punjab, over 100 villages were submerged in floodwater, which created problems for villagers and animals.
According to weather experts, widespread rain/ thundershowers are expected in Islamabad,Rawalpindi Kashmir as well as Lahore, Gujranwala, and Hazara divisions. Scattered rain/ thundershowers are expected in Malakand, Peshawar, Mardan,divisions along with Fata and Gilgit-Baltistan. Isolated rain/ thundershower is also expected in Bannu, DI Khan, Sibbi, Kalat, Naseerabad, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Mirpurkhas Division.
According to reports, discharge of water from Taunsa Headworks was 410,500 cusecs with medium flood. The discharge from Kalabagh has been recorded 383,000 cusecs. The discharge from Chashma has been recorded 479,000 cusecs. Spillways of Tarbela and Khanpur dams have been opened after a surge in water level. According to the Dam Administration, water level in Tarbela dam has reached 1526 feet.
Water inflow in Tarbela dam is three hundred, forty-nine thousand and two hundred (349,200) cusecs while the outflow is three hundred, nine thousand and five hundred (309,500) cusecs. Four villages in Rawaki near the Kacha area of Ghotki were completely inundated while more than 50 villages in Guddu remained cut-off from the rest of the country. High level flood recorded in Indus River at the location of Chachra in Rahim Yar Khan, officials say.
According to District Flood Control Room, a stream of 2, 60,000 cusec water is passing through the river with a flood warning issued in Indus River. Various rivers - Jhelum, Sutlej, Kabul and Indus - have been witnessing medium to high level floods at various points and the authorities have directed the staff concerned on duty to remain alert to cope with any emergency.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has directed Chief Engineer Civil & Works and Chief Engineer Public Health Engineering Department to reach Chitral in support of district administration for immediate restoration of roads, bridges and water supply schemes. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed grief and sorrow over loss of precious lives and damages to property in Chitral floods. He has directed the National Disaster Management Authority to gear up relief activities in the flood affected areas of the country.
The prime minister could not undertake visit to Chitral yesterday due to bad weather conditions. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif directed the authorities concerned to take immediate relief and rescue measures to help the people affected by flooding in nullahs after heavy rains in the Koh-e-Suleman area of Rajanpur district. He also directed to monitor flood situation round the clock across the province.
In Zhob district of Balochistan, Frontier Corps Balochistan has started rescue and relief activities in the flood-affected areas of Mir Ali Khel. It rescued twelve people including women and children, stranded in a flood tide. Nine vehicles were retrieved. Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has directed District Zhob administration to provide maximum relief to rain-affected people on an emergency basis.
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