Sutlej River: Relief operations in full swing amid high floods

LAHORE (Reuters) – Ongoing high-level flooding in the Sutlej River on Monday has led to widespread inundation in various districts including Kasur, Okara, Pakpattan, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Multan, Lodhran, and Bahawalpur.

According to Dawn.com, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has reported that the water levels in the Sutlej River were gradually receding at Ganda Singh Wala Barrage. However, the flow at Head Sulemanki continued to rise.

The reports said that the Pakistan Army remained engaged in flood relief efforts in the Kasur district, covering areas such as Ganda Singh Wala, Dhop Sari, Ghati Kalinger, Olake Jumay Wala, Kamal Pur, Bakarky, Attar, and Nijabat.

The army personnel were conducting relief operations and delivering essential food supplies to villages that have been isolated due to flooding. Boats were being utilised to access the affected areas.

The reports said that almost 16 tonnes of food items, including flour, rice, beans, oil, and milk, have been distributed by the armed forces to families affected by the flooding.

Read More: Rescue and evacuation operations under way as Sutlej River flooding peaks

Meanwhile, Lahore Commissioner Mohammad Ali Randhawa has directed the escalation of rescue and relief efforts in the flood-affected areas of Kasur. Rescue teams have managed to evacuate 400 people, relocating 179 of them to safe zones. The district administration, with support from various organisations, was working relentlessly to provide aid and relief.

Furthermore, medical aid and treatment have been provided to 7,121 individuals at 11 health facilities. A mobile hospital at Talwar post has treated 1,060 patients. A central base camp has been established at Talwar post, coordinating the administrative machinery’s relief efforts, as reported by Dawn.com.

The media reports indicated that Commissioner Randhawa emphasised that the situation along the Sutlej River was under continuous observation. Rescue teams remained active in the riverside villages, with additional resources and teams were ready to be deployed as required.

The commissioner stated that a total of 23,764 citizens have been rescued and relocated to safe areas from the flood-affected regions. Furthermore, 16,000 animals have been transported to secure locations via boats.

Commissioner Aamir Khattak in Multan stressed the importance of evacuating the population from flood-affected areas. He chaired a meeting to assess the flood situation in the Sutlej River, directing the establishment of large-scale tent villages in Kahror Pakka and Lodhran districts for affected individuals. Evacuation measures have been implemented in accordance with Section 144, bolstered by police checkpoints for protection.

In the ongoing third phase of relief operations, ration boxes were being distributed to relief camps and nearby villages to ensure timely food supplies.