The Islamabad administration, in coordination with all the departments concerned, has finalised the flood contingency plan, in view of the upcoming monsoon rains and necessary protective arrangements in catchments.
The officials of the departments concerned, including Rawal Lake and Simly Dam management, the CDA, assistant commissioners, magistrates, DHO, ICT, Civil Defense Department and ICT, have been asked to upgrade their level of preparedness to meet any flood situation in low-lying rural and urban areas, in view of the forecast of more rains and ensure effective coordination among them during the rains. A control room has also been made functional round the clock.
Relief and rescue teams, headed by the assistant commissioners, assisted by the CDA teams and Civil Defence Department, are also visiting the low-lying areas, including, Rawal Dam, Simly Dam, the Korang River area and other tributaries to ensure that protective arrangements are in place.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Amer Ali Ahmed held a coordination meeting with the officials of the respective departments and it was decided that the managements of Rawal Lake and Simly Dam would announce the gradual release of water from the dams and prior to release of water, the peoples living in the low-lying areas would be informed in advance about their shifting to safer places.
The rescue teams would remain alert in the catchment areas and announce through loudspeakers for shifting of peoples to safer places. It was decided that safe level of cushion in the dams would be maintained.
Deputy Commissioner Amer Ali Ahmed said that the district health and livestock departments as well as ICT have started immunization drive in the rural areas against the seasonal diseases as part of preventive measures. He added that chlorination of all the water supply schemes in the rural area is also underway. The district administration has also identified school buildings for the establishment of flood relief centres.
