Senior Member Board of Revenue/ Relief Commissioner Punjab Nabeel Javed visited the Provincial Control Room of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to assess the monitoring of the potential flood situation. DG PDMA Imran Qureshi and other officials briefed about the preparations to address the recent rainfall and the potential risk of floods. DG PDMA highlighted that more rainfall is expected in various cities of Punjab until tomorrow, and currently, the water flow in the rivers is within normal limits. He cautioned that in the event of water release by India, there is a possibility of floods in the rivulets connected to the Ravi and Chenab rivers. Additionally, due to heavy rainfall in the catchment areas, watercourses may also face the risk of flooding. The DG emphasized that if the water flow reaches 600,000 cusecs, 62 locations in the Gujranwala division may be affected by floods.
Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed stressed the importance of effective monitoring from the Provincial Control Room and reiterated the need to constantly update line departments. He emphasized the vigilance required in monitoring the flow of water in rivers and canals and issued instructions to deputy commissioners and others across the province, emphasizing the need to ensure proper drainage of water in the field during rainfall. He urged them to be present and utilize all available resources. Additionally, districts prone to hill torrents were instructed to make necessary arrangements and ensure timely response in emergencies. Adequate equipment for flood management has been provided.
The relief commissioner further directed all districts to finalize arrangements for establishing relief camps, while the health, livestock and other departments should complete their preparations for the same. Rural reporting centers, including District Emergency Operation Centers, have been put on high alert. He concluded by stating that PDMA and other departments are capable of effectively dealing with emergencies.