The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has announced that the emergency helpline number ’16’ is now operational, and that section 144 is being imposed near rivers and dams during the current spell of monsoon.
“All authorities concerned are advised to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures during the forecast period”, said PMD Director Dr Zaheer Ahmad Baber while talking to a private news channel.
“The caller will call on emergency helpline, he only have to dial 16 and it will be routed to the flood emergency response department concerned”, he added.
Under the influence of this weather system, a rain-windstorm and thundershowers are expected in Islamabad, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Swat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Hafizabad, M. B Din, Sialkot, Narowal, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang, Okara, Sahiwal and Bahawalnagar.
The Pakistan Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has advised all travellers and tourists to remain extra cautious during the forecast period.
The PDMA has directed all relevant departments to spread awareness among the public about urban flooding and how to prevent it. We are all fully prepared to deal with any kind of emergency, he added.
In response to a question, he said that people living in close proximity to river plains and watercourses had been given timely alerts and that all provincial health departments had also been urged to ensure that necessary staff and medicines were in place where required.
He went on to say that a comprehensive action plan devised to prevent flooding in Nullah Lai and other city drains had been put into place in order to mitigate flood damage.
