ISLAMABAD:
At least 110 people have been killed and 148 others injured in torrential monsoon rains in Pakistan that have wreaked havoc across the country as troops raced to evacuate people from deluged areas.
Premier Nawaz Sharif today chaired a meeting to review rain and flood situation in the country and the damage caused to life and property by incessant showers.
“Death and destruction caused by rains and floods is a great loss for Pakistan and the government would leave no stone unturned to help the people in distress,” Sharif said.
The downpour, termed as one of the heaviest ever, started on Wednesday and has since continued to lash certain parts of the country.
Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Major General Muhammad Saeed Aleem briefed the Prime Minister about the ongoing relief activities and measures being taken at the district, provincial and national levels to cope with the emergent situation.
“So far rains have caused 110 deaths…148 people have been injured while 650 houses completely destroyed,” Aleem said.
Areas in Punjab, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit-Baltistan have been affected by the rains and flooding.
Lahore and Rawalpindi divisions are experiencing serious urban flooding. There is also flooding in Chenab and Jhelum while canals, especially in Gujranwala and Rawalpindi, are also flooded, Aleem said.
Flood level in Jhelum river and Mangla reservoir is exceptionally high while the flood level at Rasul Headworks, a dam in Punjab, is at medium level.
The Prime Minister was informed that Palandri (in PoK) had received 668 mm of rain, Islamabad got 316 mm, Rawalpindi 440 mm, Lahore 350 mm while Sialkot received 316 mm of rainfall during the last 48 hours, resulting in flashfloods in PoK and northeast Punjab.
The Prime Minister directed that evacuation of people and livestock should be carried out immediately while all national highways be opened for traffic by tonight.
The incessant rains have wreaked havoc, affecting the urban infrastructure in Pakistan that regularly suffers from flooding during the monsoon season.
The floods of 2010 were the worst in the country’s history, with 1,700 people killed and 21 million affected. In 2013, 178 people were killed and around 1.5 million affected by flooding. (AGENCIES)
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