The Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) on Monday deployed specialised flood rescue teams with water rescue equipment in flood alert districts due to the recent flood warnings.
These teams have been deployed on special instructions from Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMA). Besides routine operational staff, rescuers from low flood risk districts have been shifted to high risk areas in close coordination with PDMA.
Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer finalised the comprehensive flood preparedness and response plan in a meeting with the officers concerned at the rescue headquarters. He also directed Provincial Monitoring Cell of Rescue 1122 to monitor flood risks round the clock and manage rescue operations all over Punjab.
As many as 15 boats, 13 emergency ambulances, 42 OBM engines, 12 relief tents, 286 life jackets, 60 life buoys, 60 life rings, three rescue vehicles along with water rescue teams of headquarters have been arranged for flood alert districts such as Kasur, Okara and Pakpatan.
These Rescue teams have evacuated 82 people from Toba Tek Sing, 45 from Gujrat and 28 from Narowal. Furthermore, Rescue 1122 has provided first aid to 276 people in inundated areas. Medical camps have also been established to help the flood victims. The Rescue 1122 director general, admired the rescuers conducting water rescue operations. He also requested people to take flood warnings seriously and cooperate with the agencies concerned in this regard for timely evacuation.
