Military help sought for relief, rescue in DG Khan

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Emergency was declared and military help was sought to control the situation that surfaced after torrential rains and flooding hit Dera Ghazi Khan, Geo News reported Monday.

According to military sources, the district administration of DG Khan has handed over the security arrangements to the military, after it sought emergency relief.

Now the military will be responsible to mend the breach in Dera Ghazi Khan canal at RD 206 and RD 226. The military would also be on high alert for emergency relief work and rescue operations in different areas due to possible heavy downpour that can cause flooding.

Rains began lashing the city again on Monday, while the breach in Dera Ghazi Khan canal inundated half the city.

Meanwhile, floodwater has also started entering Rajanpur and Tonsa Sharif, causing problems for residents.

In Dera Ghazi Khan, the Public Health Department’s office, Railway Road, Border Military Police Line, Indus Colony amongst other areas have been inundated by rain and flood water.

According to the Controller Rescue Team In-charge Muhammad Zubair, rescue teams are busy in shifting the affected people to safer places while Commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan has claimed that the level of water is decreasing while thousands of people have been relocated to safer areas.

Dera Ghazi Khan Administration has declared a state of emergency. The power supply to the city was also suspended.

Commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan Tariq Mehmood said that the situation in the city was already predicted and relief operations are under-way. He said that five thousand people have been shifted to safer areas.

The commissioner said that relief camps are working and affected people are being shifted to the camps set up in schools and colleges.

Almost 400 people are still suffering the ills of the flood, and they will be rescued soon, he added.