*Many villages inundated as several dykes blown up in central Punjab to divert swollen rivers and save cities from raging floods
*Army evacuating people and air-dropping food in districts Multan, Muzaffargarh, Jhang
*Prime Minister Sharif says govt will not rest till the flood victims are completely rehabilitated
Rains and floods have killed 280 people and injured more than 500 across the country whereas two million people have been affected, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Spokesman Ahmad Kamal said Saturday, as military specialists blew up dykes in central Punjab to divert swollen rivers and save cities from raging floods.
Most of the breaches at the overflowing River Chenab were performed overnight as floodwaters reached Multan. Television channels showed visuals of floodwaters gushing through the blown-up dykes.
An additional hole was breached near Shershah Bridge on Saturday as a result of which water rapidly entered towns in the vicinity besides inundating dozens of villages.
Civil and military officials have been using helicopters and boats to evacuate marooned people since September 3, when floods triggered by monsoon rains hit Pakistan.
The military said in a statement Saturday that it was still evacuating people and air-dropping food in districts Multan, Muzaffargarh and Jhang.
Per the statement, troops have air-dropped tonnes of food in the flood-hit areas, while the army’s medical teams are also treating patients.
PM PLEDGES ALL OUT SUPPORT FOR FLOOD VICTIMS:
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Saturday that the government will not rest till the flood victims are completely rehabilitated.
Per a Radio Pakistan report, addressing the flood affectees at Athara Hazari in District Jhang, the PM said that the federal and provincial governments are working together for the relief and assistance of the flood victims.
He said that owners of houses damaged by floods would be fully compensated while adding that it is the government’s responsibility to help the calamity-stricken people and it is not doing a favour by doing so.
Earlier, the premier was briefed about the destruction caused by floods and the ongoing relief activities in the area. He was informed that the 104 villages in Athara Hazari were affected by floods which have also damaged major cash crops including cotton and rice.