Emergency Flood Control Room set up in KP

PESHAWAR: The KP government on Monday established an “Emergency Flood Control Room” at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat to coordinate with relevant stakeholders for all activities and emergencies and cope with the possible flood situation emerging due to the ongoing spell of torrential rains in the province.

The control room would perform duties round-the-clock and bring the information into the notice of the chief minister in case of any kind of emergency or untoward situation anywhere in the province, said an official handout on Monday.

Deputy Secretary (governance) of Chief Minister’s Secretariat Mohsin Iqbal was nominated as the focal person/in-charge of the Emergency Flood Control Room, which can be accessed at the following numbers: UAN: 091-111-712-713, Fax No: 091-9210707, WhatsApp No: 0343-2222949

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur directed the district administrations, Relief and Rehabilitation Department, Rescue Service and all other relevant entities to remain on high alert to effectively deal with any possible emergency situation.

He directed the officials concerned to ensure all kinds of required arrangements so as to minimise the possible losses to human lives and properties in the prevailing situation.

Gandapur ordered the district administration and local government bodies to ensure the availability of relevant staff in the field and asked them to implement the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and directives issued by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in letter and spirit.

He asked the relevant quarters to regularly monitor the flood situation in the rivers and make necessary arrangements for protection, rescue and relief of the people in case of any flood emergency.

“People affected and displaced by rain-related incidents should be provided with temporary accommodation/shelters and other necessary facilities,” he said, directing the Health Department to set up medical camps in the rain-affected districts of the province.

He directed the relevant quarters to ensure the availability of required staff, equipment and medicines to provide immediate and best medical assistance to the people injured in the flooding.The officials were asked to take steps for the availability of staff and medicines in the hospitals as well.

The chief minister asked the authorities concerned to compile a detailed report on human and material losses due to current rains and the subsequent flooding.He expressed profound grief over the loss of precious human lives and said that the KP government would provide all possible assistance to households/individuals affected by recent rains and floods in the province.