HYDERABAD: Army deploys more troops to help rain-hit people
By Our Correspondent
HYDERABAD, Sept 12: The army has deployed two more battalions in rain-hit areas of the district for helping the local government as distribution of relief goods has become a gigantic task and boats are the only means to carry out the job.
Speaking at a meeting of the relief committee held at the district council hall on Tuesday, Brigadier Haris Salam of the 18-Div headquarters said the district government had requested for one battalion.
District naib nazim Zafar Rajput presided over the meeting.
EDO (revenue) Abdul Sattar Jatto was also present on the occasion.
The meeting was held to seek requirements from each UC and taluka nazims and naib nazims of the district regarding relief work.
Brig Haris said that around 3,000 troops, in addition to Rangers, were present in affected areas.
He said that three brigadiers were looking after relief and rescue work in the district and rural areas were also being focused.
The nazims said that draining out of rainwater was all the more important and food distribution and supply of drinking water was to be ensured to every affected person.
They said that rain-affected people in relief camps needed blankets and pumping machines should be provided to them for draining out rainwater.
Zafar Rajput said that an information centre was being set up for seeking information from stranded and affected people so that relief could be ensured.
He said that it was also being ensued that security should be provided to stranded people to check theft cases.
There has been no improvement so far in submerged areas of the Latifabad taluka and marooned and rain-affected people are passing miserable lives in their homes.
They are not willing to stay in relief camps for fear of theft in their houses.
Although the district government has started digging two temporary storm water drain to provide quick relief to stranded people of Latifabad-2, relief activity is yet to gain momentum as people have started agitating on roads in different areas against delay in draining out rainwater.
The stagnant water is stinking with every passing day, leading to fears of possible outbreak of water-borne diseases.
Stranded inhabitants of Latifabad-2, 9, 10 and 11 are facing shortage of drinking water and food because despite best efforts by UC nazims both basic commodities could not be delivered to families.
Supply of water remained a big question as well.
UC nazims are arranging food on behalf of the district government through their personal resources and have accumulated liabilities.
Until normalcy returned to these areas the pace of relief distribution needs to be accelerated as stranded people direly needed food and drinking water.
People having two storey buildings have shifted to upper floor and are able to cook their food but those living on ground had to shift to their rooftops.
They apprehended damage to foundation of their house because of stagnant water.
Conditions in Nusrat colony, Kalhoro goth, Panwhar Goth, Indus glass colony, Railway colony, Doomrah goth and Baban Shah colony are quite pathetic and standing rainwater is spreading stench in the locality.
HYDERABAD, Sept 12: The army has deployed two more battalions in rain-hit areas of the district for helping the local government as distribution of relief goods has become a gigantic task and boats are the only means to carry out the job.
