Rawalpindi/Lahore:
Punjab declared rain emergency on Thursday, while army straps joined the rescue effort in the wake of flooding in low -lying areas as heavy monsoon expected to pummel the province of rawalpindi with brown of nature’s rage with 250 millimeters of rainfall.
Punjab witnessed the deadliest day of the current Monsun season so far with at least 63 deaths in the last 24 hours, officials said. The highest rainfall was registered in Rawalpindi, causing flash river in Nullah Leh, where two people died.
The rain had pumped various parts of the country incessantly since Wednesday morning.
On Wednesday, 60 people died, including 44 in Punjab and 16 in Balochistan. The rain continued unabated Thursday, with Rawal Pindi and Chakwal receiving massive rainfall.
Nullah Leh, which snakes through the Rawal Pindi city, rose by 21 feet. Authorities rushed to the low -lying areas to save marooned people as emergency sirens blared. Four people died in the flood, while 58 people were moved to safer places by the rescuers.
The water level also rose in the Soan River where Leh went out. Flooding water entered houses in low -lying areas while dozens of vehicles were swept away. Rescuers 1122 and Army staff changed 19 people stranded in the Ladiyan area of Chakri to a safe place.
“Residents of vulnerable areas should prepare emergency sets with food, water and essential medicine for three to five days in the event of an emergency,” the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said in a warning.
Rawalpindi administration declared a public holiday to keep people at home, with the meteorological department warning that heavy rain would continue until Friday. Officials said the rescue operations had been launched throughout the district.
Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) said that more than 250 mm of precipitation was swirling the city. The maximum rainfall was registered in Chaklala at 239 mm; In addition to 235 mm, it was registered in Gowalmandi, 220 mm in New Catarian and 200 mm in Pir Wadhai.
The flooded sites included PIR WADHAI, TENCH BHATA, ARIYA MOHALLA, DHOK SYEDAN, QURESHIABAD, GARJA ROAD, DHAMIAL, CHOWRI, ADIALA ROAD, NADEEEM COLONY AND JAVED COLONY. Water entered the houses in these areas, damaged household article, furniture, etc. In addition to vehicles, the locals said.
This was the highest rainfall of 24 years. On July 23, 2001, 335 mm of rain was registered, killing 74 people in Rawalpindi and another 10 nearby Islamabad. Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said Thursday’s rainfall was normal rainy magic form.
In Chakwal, the district administration said, according to the BBC 430 mm rainfall in 10 hours, causing massive flooding in the district. The report said two people died while still missing when Deputy Commissioner Sarah Hayat declared flood emergency in the district.
The huge amount of rainfall gave rise to the talk of cloudburst. However, the disaster control authorities discarded the notion and said that satellite monitoring does not point to such a phenomenon. They said that the routing of heavy monsoon rain magic form.
In Lahore, provincial government officials told Reuters that heavy monsoon rains over Punjab killed at least 63 people and wounded nearly 300 in the last 24 hours. The hangers caused flooding and building collapse, where most of the deaths caused by the roofs in weaker homes failed.
Lahore reported 15 deaths, Faisalabad Nine and Okara, Sahiwal and Pakpattan more more. More than 120 homes were damaged and six livestock killed. Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said that rain also mandi bahauddin, Jhelum, Mangla, Murree and Sheikhupura.
Meanwhile, army troops continued relief operations in flooding areas implementing helicopters, in the wake of flooding in Rasool Nagar Khurd, Burhan Nallah, Dhok Badar in Jhelum. Local administration and military staff monitor the situation and there is efforts to prevent further dangers.
Since the end of June, the monsoon rains have killed 103 people and wounded 393 in Punjab alone, according to Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). NDMA later said that about 180 people have been killed, including 70 children, and about 500 wounded since June 26.
Due to the heavy rain in Punjab, emergency was imposed in view of the flood situation. All WASA field teams were active and all disposal stations were driven with full capacity. Wasa Punjab -Human Director Tayyab Farid said. “Rescue teams are on duty to deal with emergencies.”
The Punjab Home Department introduced restrictions in accordance with section 144 of the criminal case code, where he banned swimming in dam reservoirs, rivers, canals, ponds, lakes and flooding water pools in any room or public places. The restrictions would penetrate until August 30.
“Current weather conditions pose a serious threat to human life, especially among those who come into standing or liquid water,” a spokesman said. “The water level in rivers, channels and reservoirs is markedly high, and swimming or boating in these areas can result in deadly events.”
PDMA issued a fact sheet of the rain situation in the province and said that the water flow in most rivers and barriers of Punjab was at normal level. PDMA -chef Irfan Kathia said PDMA, considering the possible flood threat, had made the necessary events.
Director Zaheer Babar of Pakistan Meteorological Department Zaheer Babar told the BBC that the current monsoon rains ended on Friday, but a new rain would enter Punjab from July 21. Then the monsoon would become active again.
(With input from agencies and news desk)
