The repair work of breaches made in the dykes will be completed within next 24 hours

Lahore: All rivers in Punjab are normal and the flow of water in river Chenab at Punjnad is three lakh 50 thousand cusec which will further reduce to 2 lakh 80 thousand cusec within next 12 hours. The repair work of breaches made in the dykes will be completed within next 24 hours. Rehabilitation work in the affected districts is continuing expeditiously and the committees headed by DCOs have started assessment of losses.

This was stated by Chairman Cabinet Committee on Flood Relief Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada, Provincial Minister for Food Bilal Yasin and Spokesman Punjab Government Syed Zaeem Hussain Qadri while addressing a press briefing at Civil Secretariat here today. Relief Commisisoner Nadeem Ashraf and officers of different departments also present on the occasion. Syed Zaeem Hussain Qadri said that rescue operation has been completed in Sialkot, Mandi Bahaduddin, Gujranwala and Hafizabad and the committees headed by DCOs have started assessment of losses. He said that according to Planning & Development Department, flood water has caused loss of more than 10 billion rupees to infrastructure. He said that Punjab government has no shortage of resources and food. He said that 274 persons were killed in rains and flood and cheques of financial assistance for Rs.16 lakh each have been paid to the heirs of 80 percent deceased persons.

Shuja Khanzada said that besides Punjab government, Pak-Army, navy, air force, NGOs, boy and girl students took part in rescue operation in 21 districts. He said that breaches are made in the dykes at 193 places and repair work has been started which will be completed within next 28 hours. He said that Chief Minister Relief Fund has been set up for the assistance of flood affectees and member of provincial cabinet, assembly members of PML-N will donate their one month salary. Similarly officers from grade16 to 22 will give their three days salary while government servants of grade 1-15 will donate their one day pay. He further told that one lakh 37 thousand houses were damaged by the flood while 2847 villages affected. Similarly, crops have been destroyed over 2.38 million acres land. He said that assessment of losses is being made with the help of SUPARCO.

Provincial Minister for Food Bilal Yasin said that tents are being distributed among flood affectees while cooked food is also being supplied in relief camps. He said that 366 mobile teams of Health Department and 566 medical camps have extended treatment facilities to one lakh 61 thousand patients.