Pakistan braces for high floods after rains wreak havoc

Pakistan's disaster management body today warned of very high floods in the country after four-days of incessant rains killed at least 160 people and left a trail of devastation. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a letter to district commissioners and military agencies that accumulated water from rivers would evolve into "high to very high" floods after joining the mighty Indus River. "River Indus at Guddu and Sukkur is likely to attain exceptionally high flood level by 13th September," it said.

An NDMA official said that at least 139 people have been killed due to rains, floods and rain related accidents. All the deaths occurred in Punjab, Pakistan occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan regions. Due to the latest alert the Punjab government had declared flood emergency in the province, Radio Pakistan reported today.

According to a handout issued in Lahore, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed the authorities and various departments to speed up the relief and rescue operations for the flood and rain-hit people. He also directed provincial ministers, commissioners and district coordination officers to remain in the field to facilitate the flood victims.

Private media showed devastation caused by the raging waters that entered dozens of villages. Crops and livestock worth billions of rupees have also been destroyed and the revenue departments have been tasked to assess damage estimates.

The rains have stopped in most parts of the country and Weather Forecasting Centre has said mostly dry weather will prevail in Punjab which was worst hit by rains