PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed the relevant authorities to remain high alert to ef fectively deal with possible floods in the province due to the current monsoon rains and take concerted steps to ensure the provision of immediate relief to the calamity-hit people.

In a statement issued here, the chief minister said the protection of public life and property was the top most priority of the government.

He directed the relevant authorities to immediately rescue the people in all sensitive districts and evacuate the affected people to safer places.

Mr Mahmood said all possible help should be extended to the affected people.

He also directed the authorities, including rescue agencies functioning across the province, to remain alert.

`The provincial government will uti-lise all available resources to provide all possible assistance to the people affected by rains and floods,` he said.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority wrote to the health department and all deputy commissioners in the province asking them to take concrete steps for the protection, rescue and relief of the people amid rains and floods and evacuate people from all vulnerable areas identified in the Monsoon Contingency Plan, 2022, to safer place and camping sites.

It also asked them to ensure the early disposal of floodwaters and clearance of roads with the help of machinery.

The PDMA directed the district administrations to take steps to prevent damage to public life by electric shocks.

It asked the health department to ensure the availability of medical teams along with necessary medicines in the calamity-hit areas and spray chemicals to prevent the outbreak of diseases.

The authority also ordered the establishment of free medical camps where needed.