The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has decided to establish flood alert stations on rivers in the province. The decision has been taken in wake of anticipated devastated floods due to heavy snowfall. This year the hilly areas of the northern region of Pakistan had received about 60 feet snow as compared to 94 feet snowfall in 2005. The 94 feet snow that was registered in 2005 was higher than 6000 feet of the sea level The snow will start melting on low temperature that may trigger flood in plain areas.
First the people will face flood which would be followed by the heavy rains of monsoon multiplying the magnitude of flood and is likely to play havoc in Punjab and Sindh provinces. Districts Peshawar, Nowshera, Swabi, Charsadda and D I Khan will be vulnerable to flood as well.
To prevent losses particularly human beings and cattle, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority is going to install the flood alert system on all those rivers that are under the supervision of the Irrigation Department.
Out of these proposed stations one would be established on River Swat at Khawaza Khela and River Panjkora at Chakdara while two more such stations at Munda Head Works and Mardan Kalpani.
These alert stations would be equipped with the automated warning system indicating the flow of water. The installation of the warning system would enable all departments concerned to making contingency protective plans from floods. The project will be completed at the cost of Rs 590 million.