NAROWAL: Rescue 1122 personnel rescued on Sunday 25 farmers who were left marooned in their fields after a sudden surge in the water levels of the Ravi river.

According to Rescue 1122, the water level in the river near Chak Jundran Jalala Sharif, a village adjacent to the Pakistan-India border in Shakargarh, went up leaving a little time for the farmers working in the fields on the other side of the river to escape. Locals alerted Rescue 1122 which evacuated them.

According to Rescue 1122, an ambulance, a water boat and a fire vehicle were sent to the spot from Shakargarh station for the rescue operation. The rescued people include Jibran Ali, Muhammad Hanif, Muhammad Akram, Shahbaz Ali, Muhammad Pervez and Shujaat Ali among others. The rescue operation continued for two hours.

According to the Irrigation Department, the water level at Shakargarh Jalala Sharif has risen to 823 gauge and the level is likely to go up more in the Ravi river and rainwater drains.

Deputy Commissioner Imtiaz Shahid Gondal the water level in the Ravi river rose due to rains. He said the Narowal district administration has made arrangements to deal with floods and rains. He said that the administration would ensure that there would no loss of life and property in the wake of the flooding.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2022