ISLAMABAD (Urdu Times) Field Marshal visits flood-affected areas; Pak Army’s rescue operation underway

ISLAMABAD (Urdu Times) Pak Army is on the frontline against the flood disasters to ensure the safety of lives and property of citizens. Rescue and relief activities of civil and military organizations are ongoing, On the other hand, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir visited the flood-affected areas of Punjab and reviewed the flood situation and ongoing relief and rescue operations, while the Pakistan Army’s rescue and relief operation is also underway in the flood-affected areas. According to ISPR, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir visited the flood-affected areas of Punjab and reviewed the flood situation and ongoing relief and rescue operations in Sialkot sector, Shakargarh, Narowal and Kartarpur. On this occasion, he was received by Corps Commander Gujranwala. The Field Marshal was briefed about the current situation and the upcoming rains. He appreciated the joint efforts of the army and the civil administration. On this occasion, the Army Chief met the affected Sikh community and assured that all the religious places affected by the flood, including Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, will be fully restored on priority basis. The Field Marshal stressed that the protection of minorities and their religious places is the responsibility of the state and its institutions and Pakistan will leave no stone unturned in fulfilling this responsibility. The Sikh community thanked the Army Chief for the facilities provided by the civil administration and the army, and the Army Chief also conducted an aerial survey of Darbar Sahib Kartarpur.

The Field Marshal praised the active role of the civil administration representatives during his interaction with them, which helped in minimizing the loss of life and property. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army’s rescue and relief operation is underway in the flood-affected areas of Punjab province, with 6 rescue teams of the Pakistan Army engaged in relief activities on the Sutlej and Ravi rivers. At the locations of Head Sulemanki and Attari, Pakistan Army teams are shifting the victims to safe places through boats. In Kasur, Pakistan Army troops are engaged in relief operations along with the civil administration in the flood-affected areas. Along with the Pakistan Army, other departments such as police, irrigation department, health, livestock, Rescue 1122 and civil defense are also participating in the relief activities. The Pakistan Army has established 21 rescue and relief camps in Kasur district in collaboration with the civil administration. So far, about 18,000 people and livestock have been shifted to safe places from the villages of Kasur. The administrative camp of the Pakistan Army is established in Mandi Ahmedabad, where shelter and facilities are being provided to the affected families. According to the ISPR, the Pakistan Army is busy providing relief to the affected people even in the high-level floods at Ganda Singh Wala, while the Pakistan Army’s rescue and relief operation is also going on rapidly in Okara. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army’s rescue and relief operation is going on in the flood-affected areas of Punjab province. 6 rescue teams of the Pakistan Army are engaged in relief activities on the Sutlej and Ravi rivers. Pakistan Army teams are shifting the affected people to safer places through boats at Head Sulemanki and Attari. WAPDA has released the current details of the dams in view of the flood situation. According to the WAPDA spokesperson, the inflow of water into the Indus River at Tarbela is 188,500 cusecs and the outflow is 188,100 cusecs. At Mangla, the inflow of water into the Jhelum River is 28,400 cusecs and the outflow is 8,000 cusecs, while the inflow of water into the Chashma Barrage is 214,400 cusecs and the outflow is 194,300 cusecs. At Head Marala, the inflow of water into the Chenab River is 122,900 cusecs and the outflow is 118,900 cusecs. At Nowshera, the inflow of water into the Kabul River is 32,200 cusecs and the outflow is 32,200 cusecs. The water level in Tarbela Dam is 1550 feet and the water storage is 57 lakh 28 thousand acre feet, while the water level in Mangla Dam is 1223 feet and the storage is 58 lakh 22 thousand acre feet, similarly the water level in Chashma Barrage is 647.50 feet and the storage is 2 lakh 35 thousand acre feet. The total usable water storage in Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma reservoirs is 1 crore 17 lakh 85 thousand acre feet. Meanwhile, the water level in the Indus River is also increasing at the Guddu Barrage. According to the control room, the inflow of water at the Guddu Barrage has been recorded at 3 lakh 66 thousand 251 cusecs while the outflow is 3 lakh 35 thousand 807 cusecs, while the water level at the Guddu Barrage is likely to increase further in the next 24 hours. The continuous rise in water level at Kashmore in the Indus River has submerged several villages and standing crops in Kacha. Meanwhile, low-level flood conditions persist in Kacha areas in Ghotki. Flood water is present in Rawanti, Andal Sundarani, and Qadirpur villages, while land connectivity of more than 50 villages has been cut off. Standing sugarcane, cotton, and other crops on hundreds of acres in Kacha area in Ghotki have been submerged. The water level in Sehwan in the Indus River is also continuously rising. According to the Rivers Department, the water level in Sehwan has been recorded at 4 lakh cusecs, while flood water has entered several areas of Kacha, forcing people to relocate. In Kasur, Pakistan Army troops are engaged in relief operations along with the civil administration in the flood-affected areas.Flood situation persists in all three rivers of Punjab. In view of high level of flood in Chenab River, a crack has been created in the dam near Rawaz Bridge to save Jhang and Chiniot. Chairman PDMA Punjab says that at least 20 people have died due to floods in the province, most of the deaths were due to drowning. The bodies of 16 people who drowned in Sialkot have been recovered. According to PDMA Punjab, a crack has been created in the dam near Rawaz Bridge in view of flood in Chenab River. According to Relief Commissioner Punjab, a crack has been created to protect Rawaz Jhang city from floods. Evacuation of citizens from the Chenab riverbed has been ensured. He directed that Faisalabad and Jhang administrations remain alert and all officers should be present in the field. PDMA Punjab Punjab PDMA has said in a statement that a dam on Sutlej River will have to be broken to save Kasur from severe floods. PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said that due to the increase in water flow from India, the water of the Sutlej River is moving towards Kasur. We will be forced to break the Rahim Yar Dam to save Kasur. Rescue 1122, PDMA and the Punjab government are carrying out this operation. Earlier, a meeting was held in Lahore under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman regarding the flood situation, in which it was decided to break the dam near Rawaz Bridge to save Jhang and Chiniot in view of the high level of flood in the Chenab River. The meeting decided to deploy additional administrative officers in the flood-affected districts while considering keeping educational institutions closed in the affected areas for a week. The Chief Secretary ordered the immediate dispatch of Clinics on Wheels to the flood-affected districts while issuing instructions to immediately evacuate the river belt areas of Nankana, Sheikhupura, Toba Tek Singh. Giving a detailed briefing to the meeting, he said that a large flood in the Chenab River is moving towards Jhang. Meanwhile, the water level in the Ravi River has reached the highest level in history, 220,000 cusecs of water is passing through Shahdara during the last 7 hours, the water flow in the Ravi River was 211,330 to 219,760 cusecs. There is a very dangerous high flood in the Ravi River at Shahdara, there is also a high flood at the Baloki Headworks, medium flood at the Jasar location, while the water flow at the Sadhanai Headworks is normal. On the Chenab River, there is low flood at Marala, medium flood at Khanki and very high flood at Qadirabad, while the water flow at the Trimu Head is at normal level and is continuously increasing.

There is a very dangerous high level of flood at Ganda Singh Wala in the Sutlej River. The flow at Ganda Singh Wala has crossed 385,000 cusecs, which is the highest level in the last 3 decades. The flow of the flood relay may increase further, which may lead to severe flood situation in Kasur and adjoining areas. There is medium level of flood at Head Sulemanki and low level at Islam Headworks. On the instructions of the Chief Minister of Punjab, rescue and relief activities are underway in the flood-affected areas across the province. In view of the flood in the Ravi River, safe evacuation has been completed from Theme Park, Mohlanwal, Mureedwal, Farrukhabad, Shafiqabad, Afghan Colony, New Matter City and Chohang area, while rescue and relief operations are in full swing in Talat Park Babusabu. In addition, water entered 4 blocks of Park View Housing Society in Lahore, however, the residents were evacuated in time. More than 70 people are staying in the relief camp of Lachiwali School. At least 20 people lost their lives due to floods in the province, most of which were due to drowning. Most of the deaths occurred as a result of drowning in Gujranwala division, while there was no loss of life due to any negligence of the rescue services. The Punjab government will give Rs 1 million compensation to each affected family.

There is a flood situation at the place of Balloki in the Ravi River, Lahore had received this much water in 1988, Sheikhupura, Nankana, Blocki downstream is in danger, there is more than one lakh cusecs of water at Head Blocki, after 18 hours the pressure will reach Head Blocki, all institutions are on full alert, the flood will reach Khanewal district in the next 24 hours. Rescue and relief activities are underway in view of the severe floods in the Chenab River. Due to the floods, 395 villages in Sialkot, 127 in Jhang, 124 in Multan, 48 in Chiniot, 66 in Gujrat, 51 in Khanewal, 45 in Hafizabad, 41 in Sargodha and 35 in Mandi Bahauddin have been affected. A total of 80 villages were submerged in the flood in the Ravi River, 75 in Narowal, 4 in Sheikhupura and one in Nankana have been affected, while a total of 361 villages are submerged in the flood in the Sutlej River, including 72 in Kasur, 86 in Okara, 24 in Pakpattan, 27 in Multan, 23 in Vehari and 104 in Bahawalnagar. In addition, the spokesperson of Rescue 1122 said that the bodies of 16 people who drowned in the flood water in Sialkot were recovered, of which the bodies of 8 people were recovered from Majra Kalan, while the bodies of 4 people from the same family were handed over to their heirs. The three rivers coming from occupied Jammu and Kashmir are flowing normally, the three rivers come together at the Head Marala location. The Chenab River has a flow of 116,440 cusecs at Heda Marala, while the flow of the three rivers is gradually decreasing.