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Photo by: tribune.com.pk
Lahore Commissioner Confirms Safe Relocation of Residents and
Livestock Amid Rising Floodwaters
LAHORE/ CHISTIAN:
The Punjab province has been grappling with a state of
emergency as the Sutlej River surged to a "very high flood level" on
Sunday, prompting urgent evacuation measures across various areas.
Muhammad Ali Randhawa, Lahore Commissioner, reported that
23,364 individuals have been successfully transferred from flood-prone regions
along the Sutlej River to safer grounds. Additionally, to safeguard livestock,
15,800 cattle were ferried from these at-risk zones using rafts.
Particularly impacted were villages within the Kasur and
Chunian tehsils, where Sutlej River's torrential surge brought about extensive
flooding.
To ensure the safety of the 15 evacuated villages under
Section 144, eight police posts have been established, the commissioner
informed. Furthermore, a total of 22,000 ration boxes have been distributed
during the third phase of relief efforts for the affected population.
Just a day prior, due to the Sutlej River's rapid rise to an
"extremely high level" at the Ganda Singh Wala Barrage point,
hundreds of families from more than 70 villages in Kasur and Chunian were
relocated to secure locations.
On the previous day, the Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) had
announced that the water level at Ganda Singh Wala Barrage was declining from
"very high" levels. Meanwhile, Sulemanki Headworks had experienced a
high-level flood.
The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA)
underscored in a statement that while water levels were decreasing at Ganda
Singh Wala Barrage, they were steadily increasing at Sulemanki Headworks. The
flow rate was characterized as "normal" at Islam Headworks.
Low-lying areas in districts including Kasur, Okara,
Pakpattan, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Multan, and Lodhran were among those
encountering floods, prompting heightened preparedness from local
administrations.
The statement from PDMA confirmed that flood relief centers
have been readied in these regions, and evacuation operations are currently
underway.
In anticipation of potential flooding, the PDMA issued a
caution that over 50 locations within Okara district were susceptible to
inundation. To facilitate evacuations, authorities have been furnished with 36
boats, which have aided in relocating nearly 1,400 residents to secure shelters
in the preceding 24 hours.
The PDMA also stressed its cooperation in relocating
livestock to safe havens and highlighted that approximately 30,448 acres of
land are projected to be adversely affected by the impending floods.
In related developments, Bahawalnagar Deputy Commissioner
Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhoon conducted assessments in areas prone to flooding,
including Mari Mian Sahib and Bhukan Patan. He inspected the relief camp
established by the district administration and reviewed provisions of food and
fodder for displaced residents and their animals.
The district administration of Bahawalnagar has declared a
high flood warning and issued advisories to those residing along the riverbanks
to immediately relocate to safer locations and relief camps.
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