ISLAMABAD: Heavy rains triggered by monsoon currents have caused serious damages to the roads and other infrastructure in parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) as flood waters have swept away key roads.
According to officials, following heavy rains in AJK, a landslide occurred which has damaged Muzaffarabad-Kohala road connecting Pakistan with AJK and the rainwater triggered floods also swept away a bridge at Mahandri area of district Mansehra as a result, thousands of people have stranded in top tourist destination Naran-Kaghan.
Following first significant spell of the monsoon rains in AJK and parts of KPK, the prime minister (PM) of Pakistan has ordered relevant authorities including National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Pakistan and National Highways Authority (NHA) to utilise all available means in restoring the key roads and rescue stranded tourist in rain-hit areas.
According to officials, the monsoon rains have also caused damage to Quetta-Harnai Road; as a result, life in the area has come to standstill.
Meanwhile, the NDMA, on instructions of the prime minister, hosted the third meeting of National Disaster Response Committee (DRC) at its headquarters, here on Tuesday.
The meeting focused on reviewing the progress of directives issued during the first DRC meeting and assessing the preparedness of provinces and departments for monsoon 2024.
The meeting was chaired by Federal Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal and co-chaired by Chairman NDMA Lt General Inam Haider Malik, PM’s Coordinator for Climate Change Romina Khursheed also participated in the session, a news release said.
The officials from National Emergencies Operations Centre (NEOC) provided an overview of the anticipated impacts of the upcoming monsoon season, along with the NDMA’s preparedness and plans.
The provincial disaster management authorities (PDMAs) and other stakeholders briefed the forum on the tasks assigned by the chair in previous meetings. The chair was updated on ongoing efforts to address potential emergencies, rectify shortcomings, and the resource deployment plan for vulnerable areas.
The federal minister for planning and special initiatives emphasised the necessity of a well-coordinated approach to manage climatic hazards. He highlighted the crucial role of federal and provincial authorities in close coordination with the NDMA to ensure a prompt and effective response to monsoon-related emergencies.
He underscored that the formation of the DRC is a critical step in strengthening Pakistan’s disaster management framework and enhancing coordination between the federal and provincial governments.
The minister directed PDMAs to arrange stocks including vaccination of snakebites. He also asked to conduct reinforcement regarding building codes and resilient infrastructure. Iqbal stressed that all relevant stakeholders must fulfil their roles with utmost responsibility to ensure the committee achieves its objectives.
Senior officials from various federal ministries, NDMA, PDMAs, State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), and representatives from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Pakistan Commission for Indus Waters (PCIW), National Highways Authority (NHA), Federal Flood Commission (FFC), Railways, and other relevant stakeholders participated in session.
The Disaster Response Committee will convene regularly to monitor progress and address emerging challenges. The NDMA, as the central coordinating body, will play a pivotal role in facilitating these efforts and ensuring alignment with national disaster management policies.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024