Sindh prepares plan to tackle predicted ‘above normal’ rains

Following the prediction of a heavy rain and flood in Sindh, the provincial government issued alerts to the concerned departments and advised them to take prior action to deal with the post-rain situation. 

As per the prediction of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), heavy downpours would mainly affect the province of Sindh in monsoon. 

After the advisory and warning issued by the authorities, the Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani held a meeting with Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah. 

The meeting was also attended by Minister for Revenue Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman, and relief and other officials, including police, army, Hesco, Sepco, and representatives of Rescue 1122. 

Minister Makhdoom briefed the attendees that Sindh is likely to witness more than 'normal rain' in the upcoming monsoon season and expressed fears that melting glaciers could cause 500,000 to 900,000 cusec water in the Indus River. 

He also reminded monsoon season of the year 2022, when Padidan received over 1026 per cent rain, and Larkana witnessed 584 per cent additional rain.

Discussing equipment and machinery to turn out the province from the inundated situation, they said they have 300,000 tents, 1,900,000 mosquito nets, and 572 heavy dewatering pumps. 

The Chief Secretary directed the concerned authority to prepare a list of life jackets, boats, rescuers and all available inventory. 

Moreover, Mehboob directed Deputy Commissioners to prepare an emergency plan for normal, moderate, and heavy rain. He advised that highly sensitive buildings should be evacuated before the rain as a precautionary measure.

The KE also assured the meeting of uninterrupted power supply to the pumping stations during the rains.