Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa will visit flood-hit areas of Balochistan and Sindh today where he will get the latest updates on the ground and meet the troops busy in rescue and relief efforts.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa reached Karachi on Friday where he was briefed about the flood situation in Sindh and Balochistan, the military said in a statement.
An army flood-relief centre has been established at Headquarters Army Air Defence Command Rawalpindi for coordinated flood-relief efforts, according to the media wing of the military.
Pakistan Army troops have deployed in the provinces under Article 245 of the Constitution. The approval for the move was taken from the federal cabinet, according to the interior ministry.
According to the numbers in Punjab at least 300 individuals were evacuated in DG Khan. Overall, 38,242 ration packets were distributed and 37,428 individuals were evacuated to safer locations.
Rescue teams with the necessary equipment (13 boots, OBMs, life jackets etc.) were positioned in DG Khan for the execution of the rescue and relief operation.
According to ISPR’s statement, army Flood Relief Camps established in various areas included Collection Camps established in Lahore division with one each at Expo Centre, Saddar Bazar, Walton Road, Fortress Stadium, Badshahi Mosque, Sheikhupura, Chunian, Kasur and two at DHA.
Total 12 camps have been established in Multan Division including five in Multan, three in Sahiwal, two each in Okara and Khanewal. Total 17 camps have been established in Gujranwala Division including six in Sialkot and one each at Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Shakargarh, Sambrail, Kharian, Gujrat, Sarai Alamgir, Pasroor, Ogoki, Gujranwala, and Wazirabad.
Seven camps have been established in Bahawalpur Division including three in Bahawalpur, one each in Dera Nawab Sahib, Bahawalnagar, Hasilpur and Lodhran.
Total camps established by Punjab Rangers in the province are five including one each in Lahore, Sialkot, Mandi bahuddin, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur.
Five camps have been established in Faisalabad Division including two in Faisalabad and one each in Chiniot, Toba Tek Singh and Jhang.
Five camps have been established in Sargodha Division including two in Sargodha and one each Khushab, Bhakar and Mianwali.
Three camps have been established in Jhelum Division including two in Jhelum and one in Chakwal. One camp has been established in KP’s Hazara Division in Abbottabad.
In Sindh, light rains were reported with Mohenjo-Daro (38mm) receiving the most rainfall, 13 died due to incidents of structural collapse and drowning in Sanghar, Larkana and Khairpur, according to ISPR.
In Qambar Shahdadkot, a small dam west of Warah was breached due to excessive water affecting 600 people.
The ISPR’s statement has said that intermittent rains were reported across the province with Sibi (69mm) receiving the maximum.
In Jaffarabad, train service was suspended due to damage to Hirok Bridge between Kolpur and Mach. The ISPR stated that five field medical camps were established in the province.
Rescue and relief operation was in progress in Nasirabad where 500 individuals were shifted to relief camps and 200 ration packets were distributed.
The ISPR statement said that Khwazakhela Charsadda, Nowshehra and Risalpur were highly threatened due to very high water levels in the Swat River.
It stated that Kaghan and Naran bridges over river Kumhar at Mahndri were also washed away.
