Lahore:
River levels across the Sindh remained raised on Saturday, which prompted the authorities to remain on alert and continue the flood preparation measures. Increased vigilance occurs after the torrential monsoon rains have sparked a generalized devastation in Punjab, flooded villages, damaging cultures and inappropriate thousands of people.
Massive floods in the main rivers of Punjab have left more than 4.5 million people affected, which prompted what the managers describe as the largest rescue and rescue operation in the province of history.
According to the provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), strong floods in the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers flooded more than 4,700 villages. At least 101 people died in incidents linked to Punjab floods, while nearly 2.5 million residents were moved. The authorities also evacuated more than two million cattle.
Rescue commissioner Nabeel Javed said that 392 rescue camps, 493 medical camps and 422 veterinary units operated throughout the province. “We are working 24 hours a day for affected families to receive shelter, food and medical care,” he told journalists.
On Saturday, the provincial rainy monitoring cell and emergency floods reported high flows in key dams. Guddu dam recorded a high flood, with an influx at 544,658 brackets and outputs at 514,051 Cuses. The Sukkur dam recorded an average flood with 470,580 Cusecases, while the Kotri dam saw a low flood with 262,509 Cusecs. Panjnad recorded entries and outputs at 575 195 Cuses.
Army and civil administration officers inspected vulnerable areas in Dadu, Jamshoro, Sukkur and Guddu, where the strengthening of the embankment and other preventive works are underway. The medical camps managed by the army provide free treatment to residents and will remain active if floods occur.
Save water levels
The PDMA reported extremely high flood levels at key points. At the Punjnad head, the water flow has reached 575,000 brackets, while the Muhammadwala head levels went to 410.5 feet against a danger mark of 417.5 feet. In Sher Shah Bridge, the water culminated at 392.7 feet, near the critical threshold of 393.5 feet. Officials expect flows on these sites to retreat over the next 48 hours.
The Sidhnai headlong has experienced medium level floods, while the Sutlej of Ganda Singh Wala and Sulaimanki remains at low level of flood. Precipitation has stopped in the upper watersheds, allowing rivers elsewhere to start returning to normal.
In the Indus, the GUDDU dam recorded high flood levels with a discharge of 561,000 brackets, while the Sukkur dam recorded average floods of 472,000 brackets. The Kotri dam has low flood levels.
The director general of the PDMA, Irfan Ali Kathia, described the historic situation. “For the first time in the history of Punjab, all the big rivers have experienced simultaneous floods,” he said, adding that Ali Pure and Jalalpur Pirwala are no longer threatened immediate.
Kathia said more than 28 districts and thousands of colonies had been flooded at the top of floods. “This is the largest Punjab rescue operation. More than 2.5 million people have been evacuated, and five helicopters have worked continuously in the regions of Multan and Rahim Yar Khan for 72 hours,” he said.
In an unprecedented decision, he said, Punjab has deployed air drones to deliver emergency supplies in difficult to access areas.
