Army's rescue and relief operations continue in flood-hit Dadu, Jhal Magsi

Pakistan Army on Sunday continued its rescue and relief efforts in Sindh's Dadu and Balochistan's Jhal Magsi districts after the recent rains breached the flood protection bund of the Nai Gaj Dam and marooned people residing in surrounding areas. 

"Pakistan Army troops [are] busy in relief and rescue efforts in various areas of Dadu to help people affected by recent hill torrent and breach of Flood Protection Bund of Nai Gaj Dam," said the ISPR on Sunday.

According to the military's media wing, Pakistan Army's boats are rescuing stranded people and transporting them to "safer places". It also said that a medical camp has been established to provide care to the affectees and hot meals were being given to people.

The ISPR also said that rangers and army personnel have rescued more than 100 people from the Johi Tehsil of the district.

Jhal Magsi rescue efforts

Later, the teams of Pakistan Army and Navy visited Jhal Magsi along with medical and engineering teams to assist the civil administration to rescue stranded people and take them to safer places.

“Hot meal served to 1,000 stranded people. Jhal Magsi-Gandawah main colonies have been connected,” ISPR said. It added the Pasi bridge has been opened for all kinds of traffic.

“In Jhal Magsi, all Hindu families struck in Wangu hills have been rescued and moved to safer places after an eight-hour-long rescue operation,” the military's media wing added.

Giving an update on the damage, the ISPR said the N-65 motorway near Bibi Nani bridge and Pinjra Bridge have been blocked due to the high levels of water.

“Main gas transmission line damaged near Bibi Nani bridge due to rain, while Quetta-Jacobabad, Gwadar-Karachi and Sibbi-Kohlu have been blocked at various places,” it said.

PDMA dispatches relief items

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Sindh said it had dispatched six motorboats and more than 5,000 rescue and relief items including tents, mosquito nets, jerrycans, water coolers and kitchen sets to Deputy Commissioner Dadu on Saturday to facilitate those affected by the flash floods in Johi area.

The PDMA also said that it was in continuous contact with the army and navy to initiate air assistance and rescue through helicopters of stranded people.

Rains breach Nai Gaj Dam

Rescue efforts by the army in Dadu had begun on Saturday after heavy rains breached the Nai Gaj Dam flooding the nearby villages.

The ISPR had said that the recent rains have caused damage to the Nai Gaj Dam, resulting in the breach of the flood protection bund of the dam. It had also said that at least 12 villages of the district were badly affected by the breach.

PMD's warning

Earlier this week, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had issued a warning that Karachi and lower Sindh can suffer from urban flooding in the days to come, as the fourth looming monsoon spell may wreak more havoc in the province than the earlier three spells.

It predicted that the fourth spell of monsoon rain in Karachi, which was forecast for August 7-8, can result in more rain than the previous three spells.

A low lying pressure system, formed in the Bay of Bengal, is expected to enter Sindh on August 6, it said.

"Under the influence of this weather system strong monsoon currents are expected to penetrate in Sindh, South Punjab and Eastern Balochistan from Thursday (evening/night) to Saturday," the PMD noted in its latest advisory.

"Widespread rain/wind-thundershowers, with isolated heavy to very heavy falls are expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Tharparker, Umerkot, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Tando Allah Yar, Matiyari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Jamshoro, Dadu and Shaheed Benazirabad from Thursday (evening/night) to Saturday."