Flood effects persist in Punjab despite end of monsoon season
Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Irfan Kathia has said that the monsoon season has officially ended and all rivers across Punjab are currently flowing at normal levels.
Speaking to the media, he said the effects of the recent flood continued to be felt in various parts of the country, including Punjab.
Responding to a question, the PDMA DG said that work is ongoing to clear the damaged section of the M-5 Motorway.
According to the DG, the recent floods in Punjab have claimed the lives of 123 people and affected over 3,700 villages.
A special monitoring dashboard has been set up for the rehabilitation of those affected, which will be personally supervised by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Referring to the flood-hit stretch of M-5 Motorway in Jalalpur Pirwala, Irfan Kathia said that Motorway Police and National Highway Authority (NHA) personnel are on-site with heavy machinery, placing large stones in an attempt to control the water flow.
He said the fast-flowing Sutlej River has overflowed the motorway and is heading toward the Chenab River.
In Gujrat, just one hour of rain inundated the city, which had already been battered in recent floods.
Several feet of water is standing on many streets and neighbourhoods, including the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
Major roads such as Kachehri Chowk, Jinnah Chowk, and Prince Chowk resembled large ponds.
Two citizens fell into open manholes during the downpour but were rescued in time.
In Dadu, flood conditions persisted in the Indus River, where floodwaters have entered low-lying areas and hit the LS protective embankment.
Strong currents also posed threats to the protective embankment near Jumman Lakheer village, raising concerns of a potential breach.
Local residents are making efforts on their own to strengthen the embankment.
Meanwhile, Punjab’s Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, accompanied by other provincial ministers, visited flood-affected areas in Muzaffargarh and distributed relief supplies, including dry rations, clean drinking water, and fodder for livestock among the victims.
