Rs3.77bn sought for flood relief in Chakwal

CHAKWAL: Following the catastrophic cloudburst that lashed Chakwal on July 17, delivering an unprecedented 449 mm of rainfall, flash floods and causing widespread destruction across the district, Rs3.77 billion have been sought for relief and restoration efforts.

The deluge severely damaged infrastructure, residences, road networks, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities.

After a comprehensive assessment, the Chakwal district administration has submitted a detailed report to the Punjab government and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), requesting the immediate release of Rs3.77 billion for relief and restoration work.

The damage assessment was carried out under the supervision of the Chakwal deputy commissioner. According to the report, 173 villages spanning the four tehsils of Chakwal, Talagang, Kallar Kahar and Choa Saidan Shah were affected. Chakwal tehsil bore the brunt of the disaster, with 114 villages impacted, followed by 37 in Choa Saidan Shah, 16 in Kallar Kahar and 6 in Talagang. The floods damaged a total of 2,973 houses, of which 136 were completely destroyed and 2,837 were partially damaged. The administration has proposed an allocation of Rs147.9 million to aid in the repair and reconstruction of these homes.

Tragically, the disaster claimed nine lives, for which the Punjab chief minister has already disbursed Rs10 million in compensation (Rs1 million per victim). Additionally, five individuals who sustained severe injuries have received Rs500,000 each. The floods also resulted in the loss of 110 livestock—85 in Chakwal, 9 in Talagang, and 16 in Choa Saidan Shah. A compensation sum of Rs4.735 million has been recommended for these losses.

The report further outlines the extensive damage to development and public sector schemes. Among the worst affected were 60 schemes under the Highways Department, 18 under Small Dams, 30 under Local Government, 73 under School Education, 6 under Higher Education, and 10 under the Health Department.

Municipal bodies also suffered significant damage, with 14 schemes of the District Council, 7 in Chakwal Municipal Committee, 3 in Talagang, 4 in Choa Saidan Shah, and 2 in Kallar Kahar reported as damaged.

The PDMA has so far released only Rs5 million as an initial relief grant, district officials argue that the amount is grossly inadequate given the scale of destruction.

The administration has stressed the importance of transparency in completing surveys, with verification at the local level to ensure aid reaches only genuine victims.