Floods on a rampage in Punjab

• With Qadirabad headworks hosting a deluge, high levels of flood with combined thrust of Chenab, Jhelum and Ravi reach Trimmu headworks
• Exceptionally high flood level may continue until 12^th while Sargodha, Khushab, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh are likely to be inundated
• Prime minister, Punjab chief minister, COAS visit flood-hit areas, assure relief to victims

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif Tuesday dubbed the ruinous floods as “the deadliest in the country’s history” with over 4,000 homes destroyed and thousands of people rendered homeless across central and northern Pakistan.

Raging waves of rivers Chenab and Jhelum are causing havoc and washing away everything that comes in its way. Thousands of villages in Chiniot, Jhang, Khushab, Kabirwala, Old Chichawatni and Sargodha have submerged due to the floods whereas the water has made its way into Bhawana city.

The high levels of flood with the combined thrust of Chenab, Jhelum and Ravi has reached Trimmu Headwork, where the discharge of flood water is continuously being monitored for reducing the impact of floods on population at risk, a press statement released by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said.

As much as 400,000 cusec flood water reached river Chenab at Head Trimmu Tuesday morning and the water level is rising constantly. Flood peak of 810,000 cusec was likely to reach the barrage last night which is expected to engulf Sargodha, Khushab, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh.

A huge amount of flood water has accumulated in the Qadirabad headworks on River Chenab whereas the Trimmu Barrage is receiving 177,000 cusecs water on River Chenab, said NDMA official Ahmed Kamal, adding that if the level of water crossed the present danger mark, spillway gates of Trimmu Barrage will have to be thrown open.

The exceptionally high flood level may continue until September 12, the Pakistan Meteorological Department stated in a press release. As a consequence, Sargodha, Khushab, Jhang and Toba Tek Singh districts are likely to be inundated.

According to reports, flooding has submerged entire villages and ruined crops. Over 2,500 villages are partially or completely submerged across the Kashmir area, while thousands of people are stranded on rooftops waiting to be rescued.

Vast stretches of land in Chiniot, Kot Momin, Kot Amir Shah, Sargodha Road, Bhawana, Hafizabad, Sukheki, Bhalwal, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal and Mandi Bahauddin are all under flood water.

According to figures provided by NDMA, Punjab was the most heavily-hit province in the country due to floods with at least 156 deaths reported, 265 houses damaged and 1,337 villages affected.

In the meanwhile, Azad Jammu and Kashmir suffered massive devastation due flooding in the Jhelum river affected more than 120 villages. At least 64 deaths were reported, whereas 2,132 houses were also damaged. NDMA spokesperson has said that 30,034 people in Azad Kashmir have been affected due to rain and flood.

WEATHER PREDICTION:

According to NDMA, scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy falls are expected over southeast Sindh, whereas isolated thundershowers are expected over Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar, Bannu and Kohat Divisions, Mohmand, Bajaur and Waziristan agencies, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir.

PUNJAB CM, PM, COAS VISIT FLOOD-HIT AREAS:

On his tour of Jalalpur Bhattian of Hafizabad district, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif advised relief workers to ensure safety of the locals.

In the meanwhile, speaking to journalist during a visit to flood hit areas in the worse-hit Punjab, the chief minister said, “It is our responsibility to save every life, I have asked all political workers to go in the field and serve people.”

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif also visited flood-affected areas near Qadirabad, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Asim Bajwa said.