DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The district administration has launched rescue and relief operations in Paharpur tehsil following a breach in the Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) near Pir Ashab village with officials monitoring the situation and taking measures to protect the affected population.
Deputy commissioner Hikmatullah, accompanied by other officials, visited the affected areas in Paharpur to review the situation and ongoingrescue and reliefoperations.
He inspected the site of thebreach, the rehabilitation work on the canal, the measures being taken to control and divert the flow of water, and the situation of inundated agricultural land and residential areas.
Officials of the irrigation department, Rescue 1122 and the revenue department briefed the DC about the measures taken to control water pressure and erosion, strengthen the canal embankment and evacuate residents and livestock from vulnerable areas.
The DC directed the departments to utilise heavy machinery and the available resources to plug the breach and prevent further damage.
He directed officials to ensure timely provision of food, clean drinking water and emergency medical facilities to affected people, besides arranging medical camps and necessary care for livestock.
Revenue officials weredirected to conduct a transparent and timely survey of damage caused to crops,houses and public infrastructure so that a comprehensive assessment could be prepared for providing relief and compensation.
Following the breach, the district administration mobilised the irrigation and Wapda authorities.
The water flow from Chashma barrage was reduced in accordance with the prescribed standard operating procedures, while cuts were made downstream of the breach to control the pressure and flow of water.
Heavy machinery and labourers were deployed to strengthen the canal embankment and protect nearby settlements, while a temporary camp established at the degree college provided accommodation, food and medical facilities to displaced people.
The Provincial DisasterManagement Authority provided 250 tents, 250 tarpaulins and 250 mattresses for distribution among the affected families.
The Islamic Relief provided 300 ration packages, while the district administration arranged meals for more than 300 people.
Medicines and medical assistance were also distributed among the affected people with the cooperation of the non-governmental organisations.
Efforts to drain stagnant water are also under way with the assistance of excavators, while drainage channels are being cleared of obstructions and vegetation to ensure the smooth flow of water, according to officials.
They said water levels in the CRBC and other distributaries had startedtorecede.
On the directives of the DC, 25 additional patwaris and rev-enue department officials were called from other tehsils to expedite distribution of nonfood items and conduct surveys of losses.
The administration, in coordination with Rescue 1122, also facilitated the safe evacuation of residents and livestock from houses affected by the rising water.
According to the administration, no loss of life was reported as a result of the incident.
A spokesperson for Rescue 1122 in Dera Ismail Khan said its teams moved residents and livestock from vulnerable areas to safety.
He said Rescue 1122 disasterresponse vehicles, ambulances and personnel had been deployed at the site to deal with any emergency, while assistance was being provided to the affected population in coordination with the district administration.