RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Army troops, being assisted by Navy, Frontier Corps (FC) and Rangers personnel, continued relief operations in flood-devastated areas of various districts across the country.
The troops have been assisting the civil administration and local communities with relief efforts.
According to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release issued here on Friday, in Balochistan, some 2,300 individuals of four villages were evacuated to safer places from Othal. The Army troops provided shelter and cooked meals to the affected population.
The ISPR released informed that N-25 Highway, connecting Quetta-Karachi, was restored for traffic which was blocked at four different places due to collapse of bridges. Telecommunication was also restored in most of Balochistan particularly in Lasbela District in coordination with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
The release said the country had received 467% additional unprecedented rains from July 1 till date during the current monsoon season. Some 29 Districts of Balochistan were adversely affected by rains and subsequent flash floods particularly Lasbela, Kech, Quetta, Sibbi, Khuzdar and Kohlu. The ISPR release said that during above normal monsoon rains, 3,953 houses got damaged across the province. It said five medical camps have been established in flood-hit areas of Balochistan including Hub, Gaddani, Bela and Duddar and Jhal Magsi.
In Gwadar, Army dewatering teams had cleared Gawadar area whereas coastal highway blocked at Aghore was opened for traffic. In Jhal Magsi, four sorties of Army aviation helicopters operated delivering 1.3 tons of relief items including rations and medicines. Water level considerably receded after no rain was reported in the area. The connectivity of Gandhawa was restored with Jhal Magsi, and efforts were underway to resume connectivity on other two roads whereas 200 individuals were evacuated.
In Khuzdar, water level was still high in Mula River whereas work on connectivity of M-8 would be resumed by NHA after water recedes. The General Officer Commanding at Khuzdar also visited Bela and surroundings to oversee relief efforts.
In Chaman, Babe Dosti was opened by dewatering teams as it remained closed due to inundation. In Lasbela, telecommunication was also restored whereas relief operation by Army, FC and Pakistan Coast Guards was underway. However, all four locations on RCD opened for light traffic only.
In Zhob, a mobile field medical camp was established by FC and Civil administration in Zhob where 1,570 patients were treated.
In Qila Saifullah, flash flooding occurred in the area. In Ziarat, Quetta-Ziarat Road was blocked near Kawas Tangi Station due to heavy flooding was opened. In Quetta, floods were reported in Hanna and Nawa Kili where rescue and relief teams were working on the site.
In Sindh, 58 dewatering teams were employed for dewatering in Karachi only. Gharo Grid Station at Thatta, which was flooded with water has been cleared by Army dewatering teams.
The ISPR release said some 300 individuals were evacuated in Jamshoro where a relief camp was also established.
It said M-9 was flooded at various points due to overflow of water in Lath Dam whereas dewatering teams along with heavy machinery were employed to clear the road whereas ration and medicine was being provided to local people at Dadu and Khairpur.
In Gilgit Baltistan (GB), Karakoram Highway (KKH) and Jaglot-Skardu road were cleared for traffic by the Frontier Works Organization (FWO), which were blocked at different points by land-sliding.
The Ghizer District was cut off due to flash flooding where communication infrastructure was restored and food and medicines were provided to local residents.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Tank, Chitral and Swabi districts were badly affected due to rains whereas Chitral-Mastooj and Tank-Gomal Zam roads were opened for traffic.
PAK NAVY CONTINUES RELIEF OPERATIONS
Pakistan Navy continued its relief operation in various areas of Balochistan for the flood affectees.
Due to disconnection of land route, relief goods were delivered to the affected areas through Pakistan Navy helicopters.
During the operation, rations and other necessary equipment were provided in Arki, Athal and Lakhra areas of Lasbela district.
Seven people including the critically ill woman were also evacuated to a safe place. Pak Navy is also installing two water filtration plants in the affected areas with the assistance of Hands NG.
Commander Coast Rear Admiral Javed Iqbal supervised the relief activities and also conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas for devising future action plan.
