SAHIWAL (Commissioner Office) – Commissioner Sahiwal Division, Dr. Asif Tufail, chaired a high-level emergency review meeting today to address the severe drainage challenges following a historic monsoon spell. The session focused on the aftermath of record-breaking rains that have inundated rural areas and caused major drains to overflow.
Record Rainfall in Okara
During the briefing, EXEN Drainage Umar Abrar informed the chair that Okara District witnessed a staggering 335 mm of rainfall on July 15 and 16. This unprecedented volume has significantly delayed drainage efforts across various villages.
The meeting was informed that the Sukhrawa Drain and Sukh Beas Drain reached their capacity and overflowed at several critical points. This led to rainwater entering adjacent residential and agricultural lands.
Obstructions and Timeline
Authorities identified several factors complicating the relief efforts:
Landowner Interference: The accumulation of water was worsened by local landowners digging up soil from their fields, which inadvertently created barriers and obstructed the natural flow of water.
Drainage Timeline: It is estimated that it will take another four days to fully clear the submerged areas.
Safety Report: Despite the flooding, officials confirmed that, fortunately, no loss of life or property has been reported thus far.
Ravi River Alert and Section 144
A notable increase in water flow was reported at the Ravi River near Qutb Shahana Bridge. To prevent any tragedies:
Section 144 has been imposed across the division.
Swimming and bathing in rivers and canals are strictly prohibited.
Law enforcement has been directed to ensure strict compliance at all riverbanks.
Commissioner’s Directives
Commissioner Dr. Asif Tufail emphasized that the safety of citizens is the absolute priority. He issued the following orders:
Personal Monitoring: Deputy Commissioners of Sahiwal, Okara, and Pakpattan must personally oversee drainage operations in rural belts.
Rescue 1122 Mobilization: The district administration has been instructed to seek immediate assistance from Rescue 1122 for dewatering and emergency evacuations where necessary.
Infrastructure Security: Relevant departments must ensure that further obstructions to water flow are removed immediately.
Key Participants
The meeting was attended by DC Sahiwal Shahid Mehmood, Director Development Shafiq Ahmad Dogar, DO Emergency Services Dr. Abdullah Khalid, and executive engineers from the Drainage, Highways, and LBDC departments.