MULTAN: An additional unit of Pakistan Army was sent to Muzaffargarh and another unit put on alert in Multan in addition to two units already deployed to participate in rescue and relief operations following reports of a flood wave expected to reach Multan some time Wednesday.

Multan Corps Commander Lt-Gen Abid Pervaiz took an aerial view of the area and also chaired a high-level meeting attended by commissioners of Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan and other officials on Tuesday to review arrangements to cope with the expected flood situation and for rescue and relief operations, according to ISPR.

Two units of Multan Corps were already operational in Multan and another unit was instructed to be ready to move in case of emergency situation in Multan. One unit of Multan Corps was already sent to Dera Ghazi Khan and the other to Muzaffargarh. Additional unit of Multan Corps was sent to Muzaffargarh on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, all schools in cantonment area would remain closed on Sept 10 and 11.

Officials believe that the time from 6pm Tuesday to 4pm on Wednesday was critical. Residents of cantonment area have been instructed to shift to safer places or upper storeys of their homes while sacks of sand were placed outside schools and other important buildings.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2014