KARACHI, Aug 9 As floods in the River Indus continued to devastate areas downstream Guddu and Sukkur barrages, armed forces intensified their rescue and relief efforts in coordination with the Sindh government and the provincial disaster management authority.

While Air Force planes carried more boats and relief goods to the flood-hit areas, search and rescue teams of Pakistan Navy undertook large-scale evacuation in Kashmore, Ghotki, Sukkur, Panu Aqil, Khairpur and adjoining areas. Army troops not only accelerated their rescue efforts in the affected areas but also worked to strengthen all embankments.

Corps Commander Lieutenant-General Shahid Iqbal on Monday visited Kashmore, Kandhkot and Qadirabad areas underscored the need for coordinated efforts and close liaison with government departments to ensure swift evacuation of people and provision of relief goods, says an ISPR press release.

General Officer Commanding Major-General Nasrullah Tahir Dogar briefed the corps commander on the relief and rescue operations being carried out with the help of helicopters, boats and vehicles.

Cooked food, water, bedding, tents and medicines were being provided to marooned people, he said, adding that army doctors along with those from the Sindh health department were providing medical treatment to flood victims.

Meanwhile, army helicopters were flown into northern reaches of the flooded areas for distribution around 20,000 kilos of relief goods, including food items, blankets, bottled water and tents, among flood victims, according to the ISPR press release.

More than 50 people were evacuated from sensitive areas near Qadirpur Bund and troops deployed at Kandhkot near the BS Feeder also accelerated the rescue activities.

Pakistan Navy also continued its operation “Madad” in the flood-hit areas by utilising all available resources and manpower to provide maximum assistance to affected people.

A PN Fokker carried 5,000 kilos of ready-to-cook food to Sukkur for distribution among flood victims on Monday.

PN search and rescue teams evacuated 5,500 people from Kashmore, Ghotki, Sukkur, Panu Aqil, Khairpur and adjoining areas to safe places, bringing the total number of rescued people so far to around 25,000.

Commander Coast Vice Admiral Tayyab Ali Dogar visited the flood-hit areas to assess the situation for subsequent relief actions.

Seaking and Allouette helicopters of Pakistan Navy dropped food in the flood-hit areas while a PN hovercraft undertook long-range rescue missions.

PAF aircraft also transported more boats, food, medicines and tents to the flood-hit areas, according to the press release.