93 dead, 94 injured in flash floods: NDMA
15 August, 2013
ISLAMABAD: At least 93 people have died and 94 others sustained injuries during the recent flash floods across the country, according to data issued on Wednesday by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Eighteen people died in Punjab, 21 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 22 in Sindh, 16 in Balochistan, 12 in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and four in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), it said.
Likewise, 65 persons have sustained injuries in Punjab, 13 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 10 in Sindh, two in Balochistan and four in AJK due to flash flooding.
In Lahore, eight people died due to incidents related to heavy rain on Wednesday. Miseries of citizens were multiplied after rainwater inundated low-lying areas of the city. The rain continued intermittently throughout the day and several roofs also caved in.
NDMA said it has distributed 25,998 tents among the flood victims, including 2,430 in Balochistan, 728 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 8,800 in Sindh and 14,040 in Punjab.
The authority also distributed 500 blankets among flood victims, including 300 in Balochistan and 200 in KP. Moreover, 19,400 mosquito nets have been distributed among flood-hit people of various areas, including 4,000 in Balochisan, 10,000 in Sindh and 5,400 in Punjab.
A total of 84,272 people have been affected by floods. Some 145,078 acres of standing crop has been affected while 1,798 houses have been damaged partially and 2,308 destroyed completely in the flooding.
According to NDMA, 333 villages have been hit by floods triggered by monsoon downpour. They include 275 villages in Punjab, 28 in Balochistan and 15 each in KP and Sindh. Seven districts have also been declared "sensitive" in KP.
NDMA has issued warnings of massive flooding in the next 24 hours.
Jhal Magsi, Naseerabad and Jaffarabad districts of Balochistan have been declared "most sensitive" while Quetta, Kalat, Naushki, Harnai, Zhob, Ziarat, Mastung, Sibi, Naseerabad, Sanjavi, Musakhel, Dera Allayar, Khuzdar and other areas of Balochistan are also expected to receive heavy rains that could cause flash floods.
NDMA Member Operations Brigadier Kamran Zia told the media that water spilled by India in the River Sutlej is expected to enter the Ganda Singh area of Kasur and the authorities have asked people to move from there.
According to reports, India has released 87,000 cusecs water into the River Sutlej, threatening many villages in Kasur and Okara districts.
Meanwhile, NDMA has established 18 relief camps for flood victims and is taking care of 1,170 flood victims.
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