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Floods

Devastating Floods Wreak Havoc in Sialkot and Narowal Districts

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Heavy rainfall in India-held Kashmir has led to the collapse of several bridges and dams in the Sialkot and Narowal districts of Punjab, causing widespread destruction and displacement. Hundreds of citizens and workers have been left stranded, and the district administrations are working tirelessly to provide relief and repair efforts.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Hanjali Bridge, connecting Zafarwal with Sialkot, collapsed due to the rapid flow of water in the Dek rainwater drain, causing no casualties.
  • The bridge's central pillars failed due to overwhelming water pressure, and the construction of the bridge was completed in 1980.
  • Deputy Commissioner Narowal Syed Hassan Raza visited the site and directed transport owners to use alternative routes, while the Sialkot deputy commissioner also arrived later.
  • The Sialkot district administration remained unaware of the bridge's collapse for over 15 hours due to confusion over jurisdiction between Sialkot and Narowal authorities.
  • The collapse of the Hanjali Bridge has led to the diversion of over 22,000 cusecs of water in Nullah Dek, affecting nearby villages and farmland.

Statistics:

  • The water level at Head Marala on the Chenab River reached 175,000 cusecs on Monday evening, up from 45,000 cusecs the previous day.
  • The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has set up nine Rescue 1122 posts and placed all departments on high alert.
  • A 24-hour flood monitoring system is active in the Narowal control room.
  • Heavy rains are predicted in most districts of Punjab from August 13 to 15, with a warning of medium to high level flooding issued at Marala Khanki and Qadirabad in the Chenab River.
  • Fleets of sandbags, trees felled, and rescue personnel deployed are on the ground to mitigate the damage.

Sources:

  • The news article does not explicitly mention specific sources, but it is attributed to various officials and authorities, including Deputy Commissioner Narowal Syed Hassan Raza and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Ali Kathia.
  • The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) are quoted as predicting flooding in rivers of Punjab due to rains in the upper areas.
  • The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) and irrigation department are mentioned as monitoring the situation of rivers and dams 24/7.

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