ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could not undertake a planned visit to Chitral on Tuesday because of bad weather in Lahore.

He later arrived in Islamabad and directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to speed up relief and rescue efforts in coordination with the provincial authorities and the departments concerned.

The prime minister, who returned home from Saudi Arabia on Sunday, also directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to keep N-45 open so that Chitral could remain linked with the national road network.

Bad weather forces PM to cancel visit to the flood-hit district

Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has “also directed all concerned in the army to make all-out efforts to help and extend all possible assistance to the people in the flood-hit areas in Chitral and elsewhere in the country”.

All corps headquarters are monitoring the flood situation in their areas and have made arrangements to cope with any eventuality. Field commanders have been asked to carry out reconnaissance of the area which could be affected by the flood.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the army had provided two MI-17 helicopters for relief and rescue operations in Chitral.

According to an NDMA announcement, three valleys in Upper Chitral have been cut off from the rest of the country. It says that at the request of the NDMA, the damaged bridge at Broze on N-45 has been temporarily restored by the NHA for light traffic.

It says all available machinery and manpower have been deployed for opening the suspended traffic and restoring communication. Despite being a public holiday, the NDMA was able to mobilise and assist the KP disaster management authority by sending 40kg food packs for 500 families.

Besides providing immediate relief to the affected population, the provincial and district administrations are also trying to restore water supply to Chitral Town. They have made a temporary arrangement to supply water through tankers.

The irrigation department has been asked to immediately start channelisation and clearance of debris from Drosh Gol, Kalkatak Gol and Chukidam. The chief municipal officer has been directed make arrangements for supply of drinking water from the Golen Gol supply line and immediately start work on Anghar Ghon.

Revenue officials have been deputed at the sites for detailed assessments and verification of damage. Funds have also been provided to restore the private channel of Shishi Drosh in Chitral on an emergency basis.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) officials have also reached Chitral to assist the district administration in damage assessment and submit a report to the KP government for allocation of resources.

The district administration of Chitral is collecting data for compensation payment.

The NDMA plans to send two C-130 aircraft with food packs to Chitral on Wednesday. It is monitoring the situation in coordination with the PDMA and army.

Federal Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan said in a statement that the federal government would compensate losses suffered by the families, adding that the prime minister was closely monitoring the situation.

“The personnel of NDMA and PDMAs have become active and are taking measures to move families in flood-hit areas in Chitral, Skardu and different districts of Punjab to safe areas and providing them with food, water and medicines,” he said.

Meanwhile, PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the loss of lives and damage to property because of flash floods in Chitral. He called upon the authorities to take immediate steps to alleviate the suffering of the people and restore Chitral’s inks with the rest of the country.

The former president directed the party’s provincial chapter to reach out to the flood victims and work for their rehabilitation.

Published in Dawn, July 22th, 2015

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