Chairman NDMA reviews devastation caused by flooded Sutlej River

ISLAMABAD: Chairman National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik on Monday reviewed the situation of the devastation caused by the flooded Sutlej River, the situation of major Dams, and the regulation of river flows during the ongoing monsoon spell.

The NDMA Chairman presided over a special National Emergencies Operations Centre (NEOC) session with key stakeholders on the current flood and monsoon situation, a news release said.

The session was attended by representatives of Armed Forces, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Federal Flood Commission (FFC), Provincial, State, and Gilgit Baltistan Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs, SDMA, GBDMA), Flood Forecasting Division (FFD), Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Commission (SUPARCO), Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters (PCIW), Rescue 1122 Punjab, Tarbela and Mangla Dam Management.

The PMD briefed about the previous days’ rainfall observed in the country. They also apprised about the expected rainfall in the North Eastern parts of the country from August 23 to 25.

The PDMA Punjab and Rescue 1122 Punjab briefed about the evacuation, rescue, and relief efforts conducted along the Sutlej River.

The FFD reported that Sulemanki headworks would attain a very high flood level by 22 August and a peak in the flow of River Jhelum will be observed from 23 to 25 August which will affect the Mangla dam levels.

The Mangla and Tarbela Dam management briefed that the water level in dams and contingency measures are in place.

The PCIW briefed about the mechanism in place for information sharing between Pakistan and Indian dam management.

The Chairman NDMA directed the departments concerned to carry out flood damage assessment and gather accurate data. He also instructed PDMAs, GBDMA, and SDMA to increase awareness among the masses about the remedial measures to be taken during the season and to monitor the changing situation vigilantly. He reiterated that the settlements and encroachments in river beds of all major rivers must be cleared by all concerned to minimize the damages. INP