KARACHI: The Sindh government has placed all district administrations and emergency response agencies on high alert as a fresh monsoon system is expected to affect the province from July 31 to August 2, raising concerns over urban flooding, infrastructure damage, and inundation in low-lying areas.
The preparedness measures were reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister's Adviser on Rehabilitation Gianchand Israni, attended by Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Sindh Director General Syed Salman Shah, Rescue 1122 Director General Brigadier (R) Wajid Sibghatullah Mahar, and other senior officials.
Speaking at the meeting, DG PDMA Syed Salman Shah said vulnerable areas and major drainage choke points had already been identified to enable a swift emergency response.
"If the situation arises in any area, dewatering machinery will be immediately shifted to the affected locations," he said.
Shah added that the PDMA control room was operating round the clock to monitor weather conditions, maintain coordination with district administrations and oversee emergency response efforts.
To strengthen preparedness, the PDMA has deployed 50 specialized response vehicles equipped with heavy-duty dewatering pumps across the province. Ten vehicles have been stationed in Karachi's districts, 25 in Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas divisions, and 15 in Sukkur and Larkana divisions.
According to the PDMA, while light to moderate rain is expected in northern districts, including Sukkur, Ghotki and Larkana, heavier rainfall is forecast for Tharparkar, Badin and Mirpurkhas.
"PDMA is maintaining constant coordination with the Irrigation Department and respective district administrations to monitor canal levels and prevent overflow," Shah said.
The warning follows heavy rainfall in parts of Sindh last week, including 108 millimeters recorded in Nagarparkar, which triggered localized emergency operations.
Officials said the provincial government has also finalized relief arrangements in case of flooding. The PDMA has the capacity to establish emergency camps for up to 14,000 families, providing food, clean drinking water and electricity.
Rescue 1122 has mobilized 1,586 field personnel, 200 control room staff, 38 rescue boats, 27 outboard motors, and 24 specialized search-and-rescue vehicles for emergency operations.
In addition, mobile health units equipped with X-ray, ECG, ultrasound, laboratory and nebulization facilities have been deployed to remote and flood-prone districts.
Addressing the meeting, Adviser Gianchand Israni directed officials to remain fully alert and warned that negligence would not be tolerated during the monsoon season. He said he would conduct surprise visits to PDMA offices across the province to review preparedness.
Authorities have also advised the public to avoid unnecessary travel during heavy rain and stay away from exposed electrical installations, billboards and structurally unsafe buildings during strong winds.
