RESCUERS PROVIDED ROUND THE CLOCK EMERGENCY SERVICES IN FLOOD PRONE AREAS: SECRETARY ESD

The Secretary, Emergency Services Department Dr. Rizwan Naseer appreciates the Rescuers who performed day & night duty during the unprecedented flood in River Sutlej to save lives by providing timely evacuation & transportation of 318,674 flood affectes from 6th July to 11th September, 2023. He was informed in the Flood Review meeting by the Provincial Monitoring Cell that now no evacuations or transportations had been reported from Multan, Lodhran or Bahawalpur as the water level has gone down.

The Secretary ESD was informed that starting from Kasur to Bahawalpur Rescue 1122 deployed 423 Boats & 1668 Rescuers. Provincial Monitoring Cell further informed that 318674 flood affectees were rescued including 18002 animals from 6th July to 11th September, 2023. On this occasion, the Provincial Monitoring Officer (PMO) briefed that the highest number of evacuation and transportation 165131 were carried out in Kasur, 31104 in Pakpattan, 23398 in Okara, 20039 in Vehari and 61000 people were evacuated and transported to safer places from flood-prone areas. During this flood 7048 animals were shifted from inundated catchment areas of Sutlej River to safe places in Kasur, 3261 in Bahawalpur, 2109 in Vehari, 1007 in Pakpattan and 4577 animals were shifted to safer places from flood-prone areas in remaining Districts.

  The Secretary ESD said that rescuers provided round the clock emergency services in flood prone areas. He expressed these views while presiding over a review meeting on flood and rescue operations in flood-prone districts held at Emergency Services Headquarters here on Wednesday. The District Emergency Officers of Flood prone districts like Kasur, Okara, PakPattan, Bahawalnagar, Vehari, Lodhran, Bahawalpur and Multan participated through video link and Provincial Monitoring Officer, Deputy Director Operations along with all Head of Wings of the Rescue Headquarters and Academy participated.

The Founder of Rescue 1122 Pakistan, Dr. Rizwan Naseer emphasized the importance of timely evacuation during floods. He stated that timely evacuation during recent flood and restricting people from going back to inundated areas by the District Administration helped in preventing loss of life. Therefore, during the second spell of unprecedented Flood in River Sutlej, only 8 deaths were reported.  Dr. Rizwan Naseer paid tribute to the flood rescue teams of affected districts and backup teams from other Districts who performed day & night risky operations especially in hot, humid weather to ensure their swift rescue from flood affected areas. Their timely assistance enabled swift evacuations and ultimately saved lives, he added.###