AS heavy rains continue, it appears the government is not well prepared to rescue people if a critical situation arises.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority, the death toll in rain-related incidents across the country rose to49in the ñrstthree days.

Last year`s floods damaged millions of trees, fields and livestock. Heavy monsoon rains in August 2013 also triggered flash floods and caused loss of lives and widespread damage to crops and livestock.

According to Reliefweb, which works with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, nearly 1.5 million people, almost 80,000 houses, and 1.5 million acres of crops were affected.

In other parts of the world in such conditions, governments brace themselvesfor the flood situation by pursuing long-term strategies, especially the construction of dams to save people, crops, livestock and build infrastructures which can store water and also produce inexpensive electricity.

The dams which are the need for the country like Pakistan, especially the Kalabagh dam, do not seem to have a top priority of the government. Political leadership has politicised the Kalabagh dam and is not ready to talk on this issue.

Khazir Klasra Islamabad