Disaster management bodies fail to respond to calamity again
Punjab PDMA remains absent from scene, all phone lines cut-off
NDMA fails to act in time, only follows what army does
KP PDMA only effective body engaged in disaster management
Though the earthquake claimed over 200 precious lives and left over a thousand people injured, the disaster failed to jolt the high-command of the disaster management authorities – raising questions over the ability and capacity of those in charge at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and its affiliate Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMA).
A thorough investigation conducted by Pakistan Today has revealed that Punjab PDMA remained absent from the scene soon after the earthquake hit the country, as all phone lines of PDMA Punjab were cut-off while the website has not been updated since August 5.
The NDMA failed to act in time and only followed the lead of the top army leadership to help in the rescue and relief operations, failing to show any initiative in shepherding the rescue effort despite huge budgetary allocations over the years.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) PDMA emerged as the only effective body engaged in disaster management. But even the KP PDMA’s efforts owed more to the deputy commissioners and commissioners rather than the Authority itself.
A high-intensity earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale shook northern parts of Pakistan on Monday and claimed over 200 lives besides injuring over 1,200 people.
Not a single vehicle of the officers from the NDMA or PDMA Punjab was visible in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi – the only two cities that suffered losses outside of KP and Gilgit-Baltistan.
While no loss of life was reported in the federal capital, three citizens lost their lives in Rawalpindi where neither the NDMA nor the PDMA Punjab conducted any operation.
It was instead the 1122 rescue service and Edhi ambulances which conducted the rescue operations.
In old Rawalpindi city, a minor girl fell down from Fauji towers and lost her life. Nasir, another kid, died after falling down from the rooftop of his house near Asghar Mall road. Perveen Bibi also lost her life due to the quake as she suffered a heart attack following the jolts.
Another 25 people were injured as buildings and walls collapsed in Tench Bhata, Asghar Mall Road, Sixth Road, Birds’ Market, Raja Bazaar, Kashmiri Bazaar, College Road, etc.
Metro Bus track suffered damages near Moti Mehal where repair work was already in progress. However, the PDMA could not mobilise any heavy machinery to clear the debris and evacuate those injured. All evacuation and rescue operation was conducted by 1122 rescuers.
The PDMA Punjab also failed to establish a hotline for reporting damages. The website of the PDMA Punjab was not updated and there was no mention of even the earthquake and the damages across the province.
This sluggish response has no valid argument though as Punjab government in its budget 2014-15 allocated Rs 38,144,000 for employees related expenses, while Rs 198,298,000 were earmarked for operating expenses. Another Rs 20,001,000 were allocated for transportation of goods and Rs 157,350,000 were sanctioned for cost of other stores. The total physical assets of the PDMA Punjab are Rs 150,001,000.
Pakistan Today tried to contact the officials of the PDMA Punjab but failed to do so as all the three phone numbers the Authority had provided for contacting PDMA were disconnected. Despite repeated calls made on PDMA Punjab phone numbers 042-99203301-2 and 042-99204409, there was no answer as a taped message said that the numbers had been disconnected.
However, a control room was installed at the Commissioner’s office Rawalpindi and those affected were asked to call helpline at 051-9292586.
In contrast, the PDMA of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa appeared mobilised and effective. When contacted, Latifur Rehman, a telephone operator, told Pakistan Today that 152 people had died due to quake while 1,046 were injured.
A control room was established soon after the quake by the PDMA in Peshawar and phone numbers 091-9213845, 091-9213959 and 9223662 were dedicated for information to the general public.
When contacted on the given phone numbers, KP PDMA Assistant Director Tajdar Khan told Pakistan Today that the rescue and relief activities were being carried out in six worst hit districts of Malakand Division.
“The worst-hit districts of Malakand Division include Chitral, Buner, Battagram, Upper and Lower Dir and Swat. The respective C&W (Communication and Works) departments have mobilised excavators which are engaged in debris removal operations to rescue the people. We have received reports that road network has been cut off in Chitral district due to snowfall at hilly areas but rescue and relief operation will continue,” he added.
He said that PDMA had the lead role in helping the disaster hit areas and that the deputy commissioners (DCs) of the concerned districts were leading the district disaster management authority operations. He said that support was being offered by Rescue 1122 while Pakistan army was also supporting the local management.
NDMA RELUCTANT TO SHARE INFORMATION:
While the top officials at the NDMA were reluctant to share what role their teams had played in rescue and relief efforts, an official statement issued by the public relations department at the NDMA seemed to indicate that the Authority had simply been asking other agencies to help out.
“NDMA is gathering information from all possible sources. All P/S/F DMAs have been requested to share information on damages/losses for quickest mobilisation for possible rescue/relief assistance. All hospitals have been put on high alert. NDMA in collaboration with Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air force and all relevant departments is ready to cope with the situation,” said the official handout.
Reema Zuberi, the spokesperson of the NDMA, said that the provincial PDMA of KP had been sent 2,000 tents and a similar number of blankets and floor mats.
Asked whether the NDMA had moved any heavy machinery for debris removal, Zuberi said that NDMA was only a coordinating body and it did not have any machinery.
NDMA’s official statement continued, “All related agencies are on board. In addition NDMA USAR teams and all other emergency services have also been put on high alert. Army has started search and rescue operations. National Emergency Operation Centre of NDMA has also been activated to monitor the situation 24/7. Pakistan Air Force has been requested to carryout aerial photography/survey to analyse the extent of infrastructure damage. SUPARCO has been asked to provide satellite images to analyse the extent of damage. PTA has also been requested to restore the communication networks so that immediate information can be gathered from the concerned departments.”