LAHORE:
Just as large swathes of the country continue to reel from torrential monsoon rains and the rising human toll they have taken, the authorities on Friday sounded the alarm bells once again.
A fresh monsoon wave, from July 20 to 25, is set to batter several regions, with authorities warning of heavy rainfall, gusty winds, dust storms and potential flash floods in the days ahead.
Most districts of Punjab are expected to face stormy weather even as emergency services continue to pull bodies from the rubble and rescue citizens trapped in rising waters. With the fourth monsoon spell preparing to hit with full force, the authorities are scrambling to stay a step ahead of the deluge.
The renewed warning comes as rescue authorities confirmed at least seven more deaths as over 180 individuals were rescued from vulnerable and inundated areas across Punjab.
The fatalities were caused primarily by roof collapses, landslides and other rain-related emergencies.
Meanwhile, flood alerts have been issued for major rivers and urban flooding is anticipated in several cities.
According to the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), districts including Rawalpindi, Murree, Galyat, Attock, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Gujrat, Jhelum and Gujranwala are likely to experience heavy rainfall with gusty winds.
Rain is also expected in Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Sargodha and Mianwali. For South Punjab, the forecast predicts rain in Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar from July 18 to 23.
Flood alert
In a separate development, PDMA Punjab issued a flood alert for the River Indus at Kalabagh and Chashma, where high flood levels are expected within the next 24 hours.
The commissioners of Sargodha and Dera Ghazi Khan divisions, along with the deputy commissioners of Mianwali, Bhakkar, Layyah, Kot Addu, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur, have been instructed to remain on alert for possible flood scenarios.
Rescue 1122 and relevant departments, including local government, agriculture, irrigation, health, forests, livestock, and transport, have been directed to complete all preparations in advance. Emergency control rooms are to remain fully staffed, while disaster response teams and fuel supplies are to be kept in readiness.
Authorities have been instructed to ensure evacuation of people and livestock from riverbeds, and to stock relief camps with food, clean drinking water and essential supplies.
Senate
PTI Senator Barrister Ali Zafar on Friday came down hard in the Senate on the federal and Punjab governments over “gross negligence” in the face of devastating monsoon rains, saying the authorities stood by like mute spectators as citizens were left helpless.
Speaking in the House on a point of public importance, Senator Zafar lamented the loss of innocent and valuable lives due to flooding and urban deluge, saying people have been left helpless and stranded.
He called for the immediate formation of a parliamentary committee to probe the administrative and disaster response failures.
“The state machinery remained a silent spectator while roads turned into rivers, houses and entire neighbourhoods were submerged and citizens were forced to climb onto rooftops to save their lives,” he said.
“This is not the first time. Monsoon rains were forecast well in advance, yet both federal and provincial departments remained unprepared.”
He also blasted the performance of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and provincial emergency response institutions.
“Where was the NDMA? Where were Punjab’s disaster agencies? What emergency plans had the government devised? And why was immediate relief not provided to victims?”
He asserted that the people have every right to ask whether the government has any system in place to deal with such natural disasters.
“It is the duty of the state to protect the life, property, and dignity of its citizens. If we fail today, then tomorrow mothers will be seen searching for their children in floodwaters,” he warned.
He urged the Senate to demand a comprehensive report from the government on the damages and administrative response to the monsoon crisis and to constitute a parliamentary committee to ensure accountability and preparedness for future calamities.
High alert
The Punjab government has placed all district administrations on high alert.
PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia said alerts have been sent to the departments of health, irrigation, communication and works, local government and livestock.
Counting bodies
The ongoing monsoon spell has already caused massive loss of life and damage.
Rescue officials reported that three people died and one was injured in Chiniot. Among the victims were 45-year-old Bano, wife of Riaz and 27-year-old Shamim, wife of Nawaz, who were killed when the roof of a house collapsed in Chak No 140.
In another incident in Kot Bhawana, 45-year-old Zafar Abbas, son of Rehmat Ali, lost his life.
In Lahore, 35-year-old Naheed, wife of Siddiq, was killed and four others were injured after a roof collapsed in Maraka Quarters on Multan Road.
In Okara’s Chak 26-1AL, Renala Khurd, 25-year-old Rani Bibi, wife of Mazhar Iqbal, was killed and four others were injured in a similar incident.
Similarly, Sargodha reported the death of 40-year-old Sikandar, son of Muhammad Sharif, in Chak 86 on Lahore Road.
A fatal landslide in Chakwal’s Arrah village in Basharat, Choa Saidan Shah, killed 36-year-old Muhammad Zubair Ahmad. Meanwhile, in Jhelum, collapsing roofs, walls and other emergencies injured 172 people, with the seriously wounded rushed to nearby hospitals.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast heavy monsoon activity across all provinces, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. In Sindh, heavy rainfall is expected from the night of July 18 until July 20 in Tharparkar, Umarkot, Mithi, Hyderabad, Badin, Thatta, Karachi, Khairpur, Jacobabad, Dadu, Kashmore, Benazirabad, Sanghar, Sukkur, Ghotki and adjoining areas.
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, rainfall is predicted between July 21 and 25 in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Kohat, Swat, Dir, Malakand, Shangla, Battagram, Bajaur, Waziristan, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda and Hangu.
Punjab is also set to experience rain from July 20 to 25 in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Gujrat, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Sahiwal, Jhang, Okara, Bhakkar and Mianwali.
Balochistan may witness rain between July 18-19 and again from July 21-23 in Lasbela, Awaran, Khuzdar, Quetta, Zhob, Killa Saifullah, Ziarat, Qalat, Shirani, Musa Khel, Loralai and Barkhan.
The Met Office has warned of potential flooding in local streams and nullahs in northeast Punjab, K-P, and Kashmir, along with the risk of urban flooding in cities including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Peshawar.
Authorities have also flagged the possibility of landslides in Murree, Galyat, K-P, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Citizens have been urged to avoid weak infrastructure, waterlogged areas and locations with solar panels or tall trees, as safety remains the government’s top concern.
