DERA GHAZI KHAN: Three members of a family died and five were injured on Tuesday morning when a van they were travelling in was hit by a trailer from behind as a result of which the van collided with another trailer in the front on Sagum Chowk near Daat bridge.

The deceased were identified as Fahim, Umair Sanwal and Masood, while the injured were Naeem, Mazhar, Usman, Kaleem and Faisal.

Police report said Fahim, his brother and other relatives were returning from Multan after seeing off his father Riyaz at the airport. Soon after the accident, rescuers reached the spot. The bodies and injured were recovered by cutting off the vehicle.

SEARCH: A joint team of the army, district police and other law enforcement agencies on Tuesday conducted a search operation under the National Action Plan in the Gaddai police precincts.

The team used biometric system to ascertain the identity of residents. District Police Officer Ghulam Mubashir Maikan told Dawn police were using cyber technology in the joint search operation. The Border Military Police and personnel of the Baloch Levies were also taking part in the operation that continued until the filing of this report.

FLOOD: The district government reviewed its estimates made on Monday of villages expected to be hit by the upcoming high flood in the district.

Additional District Collector Mehboob Khan had held a press conference on Monday where he claimed that 19 villages were under the threat of flood in the Indus.

On Tuesday, the district government issued a press release that read 83 villages were under dire threat of the flood, including 42 in Dera Ghazi Khan tehsil, 11 in Taunsa and 30 in Kot Chhutta. The release further said flood protection embankments near Shadan Lound and Pir Adil were under threat of erosion as the river has changed its direction towards them.

District Coordination Officer Nadeemur Rehman claimed 22 relief camps were functioning in the district to provide shelter, food and medical treatment.

Floodwater of 600,000 cusecs was likely to reach Taunsa Barrage in the district by July 31.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play