D.I.KHAN:Hundreds of people have been displaced with infrastructural damages in several areas of the district due to the flash floods in the region.
The official sources in Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) informed reporter that the region received 200 mm rain during last 24 hours.
The torrential flood water triggered by incessant rain falls are coming through the perennial water channels hurtling from Koh-e-Suleman range via Zam-Tank. The water, after wiping out Umar Adda, Kiri Marwati, Kiri Jandar and several other villages in Tank district reached the limits of Dera.
Sagu, Shorkot, Kech, Band Korai, Budh, Garah Rahman, Jabbarwala and dozens of other villages in Tehsils Paroa, Daraban, Kulachi and Dera besides adjoining areas of Darazinda inundated with violent flash flood.
The Sagu Bridge was destroyed by the flood where a truck laden with fruits overturned. However, the driver of the truck was rescued while three people were missing from the area.
A woman was buried in the debris of a mud-house which caved in due to rain here in Phulari area of Kirri Khesour.
Also, the discharge of fresh overflowing water from Gomal Zam Dam was coupling the flash flood velocity. The Gomal Zam Dam authorities warned the administrations to initiate precautionary measures on priority basis to deal with any untoward situation as 6,000 cusecs water was being released from the dam.
Muhammad Noman, the Resident Engineer (RE) of Gomal Zam Dam while talking to reporter said that the absence of appropriate mechanism to manage the rainwater accumulating through Tank-Zam was one of the major causes behind the flash flood in the region.
He stressed the need of another dam at Tank Zam to manage the huge amount of hilly torrents received around the year through rainfalls, adding, it would help overcoming the flood related issues as well as mange the water.
To a question, the RE informed that the reservoir level of the dam had reached to its full storage capacity of 746.5 metre.
The ongoing over flooding in the area caused by torrential rains is likely to batter certain distributaries with causing breaches in the Chasma Right Bank Canal.
To another question about the forecast of further rains, he said there was no Meteorological office in upper areas of the Gomal Zam Dam which also makes it difficult to manage the water.
The Rescue 1122 is carrying out relief operations in the flood-hit areas of districts Dera Ismail Khan and Tank and so far rescued over 780 people and shifted them to safe places.
According to Rescue 1122 spokesperson, the people trapped in the flood water are being pulled out from different flood-affected areas of both the districts. He informed that the more Rescue 1122 teams were dispatched from Mardan, Nowshera and Charsadda to Dera Ismail Khan and Tank as the flash floods wrecked havoc in these districts.
The rain-water was being drained from different areas by heavy machinery and dewatering pumps, he said. The Rescue 1122 has set up medical camps in different areas where first aid was being provided to patients and injured on the spot while seriously injured were being taken to hospital in ambulances. The Rescue 1122 is on alert while the leaves of all personnel has also been cancelled, he informed.
Another flood relief camp has been set up at Ratta Kulachi Cricket stadium by the district administration to provide the relief and residence facilities to the flood affectees.
The Assistant Commissioner Paharpur also announced high alert and asked the residents to shift to the safer places as the water is approaching the area.
The people of the flood-hit villages are fleeing to safer places on self-help basis.
Jamshed Khan, a resident of Kech told reporter telephonically that he along with his family, likewise other people, on self-help basis were leaving their village for any safer place in Dera city.
It is worth mentioning here that the communication means have totally been collapsed besides destruction of the standing crops of rice, sugarcane, maize, dates and orchards of lemon, fruits in the area in addition to marooning of residents.
The district administration, keeping in view the emergency situation, also announced two days holidays for all public and private educational institutions including schools and colleges.