RAWALPINDI: With the start of the monsoon season and the flood emergency declared in Rawalpindi district, the local administration has set up seven flood relief camps to provide quick help to people who may be affected by possible flooding.
These camps have been fully stocked with food, clean drinking water, medicines, shelter, and security arrangements.
Since the 22-kilometer-long Nullah Leh and 15 other stormwater drains pose flood threats, the period from July 15 to August 31 has been officially marked as the flood season.
To keep an eye on the situation round the clock, a control room has been established at the District Civil Defence Office in Kachehri. It includes staff from all key departments, including the military.
The Triple One Brigade of the Pakistan Army has been put on red alert. They are equipped with life jackets, large rescue boats, and other necessary flood relief equipment. Their officers have already begun quiet inspections and monitoring of the Nullah Leh.
The flood relief camps have been arranged in government schools located near the low-lying areas that often face flooding each year.
These schools include Islamia Higher Secondary School No 1, Islamia Higher Secondary School No 4, Girls School New Katarian, Girls School Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Girls School Dhoke Ratta, Girls School and College Dhoke Hassu, and Girls College Gawalmandi.
Each department has been assigned specific responsibilities: the education department will handle shelter arrangements, the revenue department will look after food, the health department will provide medicines and medical support, the local police will manage security, and the RTA secretary’s office will arrange transport for moving flood-affected people to relief camps.
Every classroom chosen for relief duties has already been prepared with bedding and other necessary items.
Even after schools reopen on August 15, two to three rooms in each school will continue to be kept available for emergency flood use.
To strengthen awareness, the early warning flood alert system has been upgraded and is now fully active.
If the water level in the Nullah Leh or any other stormwater drain rises to a dangerous level, alerts will go off, and announcements will be made through mosque loudspeakers to warn residents.
Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema formally opened the Flood Control Room.
Talib Hussain, the District Officer for Civil Defence and the DC’s focal person, shared that 15 check posts have been set up in low-lying areas, each staffed by five to ten trained volunteers.