RAWALPINDI   - With the Rawalpindi district administration declaring a flood emergency, it has established seven flood relief camps to ensure swift assistance for those potentially affected by flooding.

These camps have been fully equipped to tackle the situation and help those in need with food, medicine, drinking water, shelter, and security arrangements. In monsoon season every year, there has been a flood risk along the 22-kilometer-long Nullah Leh and 15 other stormwater drains from July 15 to August 31, the period officially declared as the flood season. To monitor the situation, a 24/7 control room has been set up at the District Civil Defence Office at the city Kachehri, with representatives from all relevant departments, including the military.

The Army equipped with life jackets, large boats, and other flood response gear, has been put on red alert. The flood relief camps have been set up in government schools located near the low-lying areas most prone to flooding each year. These include Islamia Higher Secondary School No 1, Islamia Higher Secondary School No 4, Girls School New Katarian, Girls School Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Girls School Dhoke Ratta, Girls School/ College Dhoke Hassu, and Girls College Gawalmandi.

At these camps, the district education department will be responsible for providing shelter, revenue department for food, health department for medical supplies, local police stations for security, and the RTA secretary office for transportation of floodaffected people to relief camps.

Each classroom designated for relief purposes has been pre-equipped with bedding and essential supplies. Even after schools reopen on August 15, two to three classrooms in each school will remain reserved for emergency flood relief operations under the emergency plan.

Meanwhile, the early warning flood alert system has been upgraded and made fully operational. If water levels in the Nullah Leh or any of the stormwater drains reach dangerous levels, warning sirens will be activated. Announcements through mosque loudspeakers will also inform residents of potential flood risks. Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema officially inaugurated the Flood Control Room. Fifteen check posts have been established in low-lying areas, each manned by five to 10 trained volunteers. Furthermore, at least 104 people have lost their lives and 200 others sustained injuries in rainrelated incidents across Pakistan since June 26, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). According to a NDMA spokesperson, the fatalities include 49 children, 37 men, and 18 women. Torrential rains and subsequent flooding have triggered numerous accidents and structural collapses in both urban and rural areas.

In addition to the loss of life, extensive damage to infrastructure has also been reported. Nine bridges, around 10.5 kilometres of roads sustained damage in the rain-related developments. Similarly, 135 houses were completely destroyed and 278 others partially damaged. Livestock losses have also been significant, with 111 animals reported dead. The NDMA has directed all relevant provincial and local authorities to accelerate relief and emergency operations in affected regions.