SAHIWAL: The district administration is on high alert due to ongoing rainfall and the potential for severe flooding near the Qutab Shahana Bridge on Sahiwal-Faisalabad Road, and surrounding villages on the left side of the River Ravi.

These areas have experienced land erosion over the past three to four decades, particularly in villages like Dad Baloch, Mir Dad Mafi, and Chak Sheraza.

Deputy Commissioner Saima Ali told Dawn that the administration is highly vigilant. The district government has completed two embankment projects, Erosion Action Scheme, in and around Qutab Shahana and village Dad Baloch. These projects involved the use of stones, sand and wireframes to strengthen embankments and protect against floodwaters. Up to Rs280 million was spent to safeguard roads and village guide walls from erosion caused by floodwaters.

Ms Ali claimed that union council secretaries had made public announcements in mosques, advising villagers on both sides of the River Ravi to evacuate. A flood contingency plan has already been implemented, including the establishment of emergency camps, a control room to monitor floodwater levels, livestock vaccination and medical camps, embankment monitoring by the irrigation department, and Rescue 1122 emergency services.

Admin says vigilant to tackle ongoing rain spell, flood threat

Additional Commissioner Shafiq Doger told Dawn that water storage capacity at Indian dams, including Gobind Sagar on the River Sutlej, Pong on the River Beas and Thein on the River Ravi, had reached 54%, 53%, and 29% respectively, as of Aug 17. However, the ongoing rain and the filling of Indian dams are expected to lead to flooding in the Sutlej and Ravi rivers.

HONOUR KILLING: A man stabbed his wife and critically injured his sister in village 118/12-L, Chichawatni, late on Sunday. Amjad Hussain, Kasowal station house officer, said suspect Waseem, who works in Wapda Town, Lahore, married Iram two years ago, and the couple has two children. Waseem’s family resides in their village home along with his unmarried sister.

Villagers informed the police that Waseem harboured suspicions about his wife’s character. He had previously warned his sister Shamim and his wife to change their behaviour. Two days ago, Waseem allegedly saw a viral mobile video on social media in which he saw his wife with a man. He returned home secretly at night and attacked both women while they were sleeping in the house’s courtyard. Believing both were dead, he fled.

Shamim survived the attack and was rushed to the Chichawatni Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Chichawatni, from where she was referred to Sahiwal Teaching Hospital. Police reports said that both Iram and Shamim sustained multiple knife injuries to the upper parts of their bodies.

ELECTROCUTED: An eight-year-old girl named Simra was electrocuted after coming into contact with an air cooler in Pakpattan city. Simra was returning home from school when she accidentally touched the body of an air cooler installed on the outer wall of a house. She was electrocuted and died on the spot. Rescue 1122 later handed over her body to her family, who reside in Mohalla Farid Nagar.

BODY: The body of a young man was recovered from the Pakpattan Canal near the Government Employee Colony after being spotted by villagers. Rescue 1122 retrieved the body, which was sent to DHQ Hospital for an autopsy. Farid Nagar Police have launched an investigation, suspecting the youth was murdered two to three days ago.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2024