205 dead as rains hammer Punjab, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan

Published September 8, 2014
A villager carries his possessions while wading through floodwater following heavy rains in Jafar Kot near Wazirabad, some 100 kilometres north of Lahore. — Photo by AP
A villager carries his possessions while wading through floodwater following heavy rains in Jafar Kot near Wazirabad, some 100 kilometres north of Lahore. — Photo by AP

LAHORE: Heavy monsoon rains and flooding in Punjab, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan have claimed at least 205 lives.

Ahmed Kamal, an official from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), told Dawn that 131 people have died as a result of heavy rains in Punjab; 11 have died in Gilgit Baltistan whereas the death toll in Azad Kashmir has risen to 63.

According to the NDMA official, a huge amount of flood water has accumulated in the Qadirabad headworks on River Chenab whereas the Trimmu Barrage is receiving 177,000 cusecs water on River Chenab.

A flood alert posted on the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) website stated that due to the second flood peak in River Chenab, the peak at Trimmu is likely to persist for another 24-48 hours with a maximum flow of 8,00,000 cusecs.

A flood victim searches amongst the debris of a house destroyed by a flood, caused by heavy rain, in Wazirabad, located in Gujranwala. — Photo by Reuters
A flood victim searches amongst the debris of a house destroyed by a flood, caused by heavy rain, in Wazirabad, located in Gujranwala. — Photo by Reuters

The exceptionally high flood level may continue until September 12 (2100 PST), the PMD stated in a press release.

As a consequence, Sargodha, Khushab, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh districts are likely to be inundated.

Also read: Is Pakistan ready for a monsoon catastrophe?

Concerned authorities have been requested to take all necessary measures to avoid any loss of life and property, the alert said.


PM meets flood victims in Rawalakot


Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met flood victims on Monday in Azad Kashmir's Rawalakot region.

Addressing a gathering there, the prime minister vowed to make Kashmir a centre of tourism, adding that it was his wish to see Azad Kashmir heading towards progress and prosperity.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. — screengrab
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. — screengrab

The premier also said his government wanted to resolve the energy crisis in Pakistan. He said the sit-ins were aimed at damaging the country's economic growth but the government will continue working for economic prosperity.

The prime minister had arrived in Rawalakot earlier today and had visited areas affected by heavy rains and flooding. The premier was accompanied by former prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider.

He was given a briefing by Chief Secretary AJK who said that heavy rains have caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure and that Jhelum, Chenab and Poonch rivers have been affected by heavy flooding.

The premier was also told that landslides have caused extensive damage to roads and bridges.

Meanwhile, personnel of the Pakistan Army are engaged in relief operations and affected families have been provided tents, food and blankets, the briefing added.


River flow, dam level position


The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has released following positions of river flow and dam level on Monday.

A rescue worker steers a boat as flood victims wait for their turn in floodwaters, caused by heavy rain, to be transported to dry ground in Wazirabad, located in Gujranwala. — Photo by Reuters
A rescue worker steers a boat as flood victims wait for their turn in floodwaters, caused by heavy rain, to be transported to dry ground in Wazirabad, located in Gujranwala. — Photo by Reuters

According to the details, the position of the river inflows and outflows at Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma along with the reservoirs levels and the barrages today is as under:

Rivers: Indus at Tarbela: Inflows 114,700 cusecs and outflows 72,400 cusecs; Kabul at Nowshera: Inflows 17,800 cusecs and outflows 17,800 cusecs; Jhelum at Mangla: Inflows 107,500 cusecs and outflows 95,200 cusecs; Chenab at Marala: Inflows 127,500 cusecs and outflows 124,500 cusecs.

Barrages: Jinnah: Inflows 161,000 cusecs and outflows 153,000 cusecs; Chashma: Inflows 167,100 cusecs and outflows 122,300 cusecs; Taunsa: Inflows 161,900 cusecs and outflows 144,000 cusecs; Panjnad: Inflows 17,900 cusecs and outflows 2,100; Guddu: Inflows 121,000 cusecs and outflows 86,300 cusecs; Sukkur: Inflows 78,700 cusecs and outflows 25,800 cusecs; Kotri: Inflows 29,325 cusecs and outflows nil cusecs.

Reservoirs Level and Storage: Tarbela — dead level 1380 feet, present level 1538.12 feet, maximum level 1550 feet, live storage 5.774 million acre feet (MAF); Mangla — dead level 1040 feet, present level 1240.70 feet, maximum level 1242 feet, live storage 7.286 MAF; Chashma — dead level 637 feet, present level 649.00 feet, maximum level 649 feet, live storage 0.289 MAF.

The inflows and outflows of River Indus at Tarbela and Chashma, River Kabul at Nowshera and River Jhelum at Mangla have been reflected as mean flows of 24 hours, whereas the other flows have been gauged at 6 am.

More on this: Flood wreaks more havoc in Wazirabad

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