DERA ISMAIL KHAN (Kashmir English): The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab has issued a heavy rain and flood advisory for the southern regions of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur during the period from April 2 to April 4.
The PDMA spokesperson announced through a Tuesday statement that Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, and Koh Suleiman regions will experience severe rain during the entire forecast period.
The authority now expects flash flooding to occur in riverbeds because of the upcoming rainfall. The advisory comes amid ongoing heavy rains across various parts of the country over the past week, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, northern Punjab, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi, which have already caused multiple accidents.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa PDMA reported that rain-related incidents since March 25 have claimed 17 lives across districts, including Bannu, Abbottabad, Kohat, Upper Dir, Bajaur, Batgram, and North Waziristan. Rescue officials in Karachi confirmed that heavy rainfall and strong winds last Wednesday resulted in 16 deaths through various incidents.
Afghanistan’s Disaster Management Authority reported that the country’s rainfall and flood disasters have resulted in 28 deaths and 49 injuries and the destruction of more than 100 houses.
Irfan Ali Kathia, the Director General of PDMA Punjab, warned residents to stay away from dangerous locations which contain electric poles and hanging wires, weak structures, and dilapidated buildings.
He urged citizens to refrain from unnecessary travel during the adverse weather and to keep children away from low-lying areas with accumulated water.
The public should reach out to the PDMA helpline at 1129 for emergency situations. All authorities, together with district administrations, which include Motorway Police and other relevant departments, must maintain a state of high alert to ensure instant emergency response.
DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia stated that all precautionary measures should be implemented in advance under the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The PDMA control room continues to oversee operations throughout the entire day every single day, while all rescue personnel and equipment, which includes 1122 teams, stand ready for service.
The DG stated that authorities will handle water emergencies that occur in low-lying areas through immediate fortification measures.
