LAHORE: As many as 7,922 policemen across Punjab have so far evacuated 6,630 flood-hit people, including 29 families of Rahim Yar Khan district, 25 of Mandi Bahauddin and 20 of Chiniot.

According to a handout issued on Sunday, boats, trolleys and various vehicles are being used for relief activities by police teams who also rescued 5,203 cattle along with appurtenance of the affected people.

Similarly, police also provided 3,493 mud bags to the local administration.

In Gujranwala region, up to 3,102 persons and 1,904 cattle have so far been evacuated by police.

Mandi Bahauddin District Police Officer Syed Junaid Arshad himself rescued a three-day-old baby girl by driving a boat in Qadirabad area of the Chenab river.

As many as 2,530 traffic policemen have also been deputed to ensure vehicular movement in the affected areas.

Similarly, police medical ambulances along with paramedical staff also reached the flood-tossed areas and would remain on duty till further orders.

Meanwhile, Sheikhupura police countered an attempt by some elements to breach the BRB Canal.

Police are also assisting the local administration at 300 relief camps set up in various government schools, community centres, technical training institutes, factories and offices of union councils.

Among those, four camps are in Nankana Sahib, two in Gujranwala, 15 Gujrat, 9 Hafizabad, 3 Mandi Bahauddin, 19 Sialkot, 18 Narowal, 14 Jhelum, 12 Sargodha, 4 Khushab, 4 Bhakkar, 9 Toba Tek Singh, 18 Jhang, 7 Lodhran, 14 Vehari, 8 Sahiwal, 12 Okara, 33 Muzaffargarh, 40 Layyah, 19 Bahawalpur, 16 Bahawalnagar and 20 camps in Rahim Yar Khan.

In Lahore district, police are providing round-the-clock security to four dykes on the Ravi. Police also evacuated people from four villages situated along the river.

DIG (Operations) Dr Haider Ashraf told Dawn that 24 policemen in three shifts were performing security duty at four dykes. He said police were also securing all relief camps along the river.

The DIG said arrangements were also made to divert traffic from three bridges as a part of precautionary measures, adding that a central control room was also set up to monitor rescue and relief activities.

RESCUE 1122: The Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) has so far evacuated over 7,000 flood affected people from districts and shifted them to safer places.

Over 300 seriously injured victims have been shifted to hospitals by ambulances in different districts of Punjab.

According to a news release, around 300 boats are participating in rescue operations across the province.

According to the Provincial Monitoring Cell, of 7,000 people evacuated and transported to safer places, 1,505 have been rescued in Mandi Bahauddin, 1,467 in Hafizabad, 1,143 in Sialkot, 710 in Gujranwala, 616 in Narowal, 300 in Chiniot, 217 in Jehlum, 125 in Sheikhupura and 107 in Lahore.

Around 70 people have been provided with first aid.

Rescue Punjab Director General Dr Rizwan Naseer visited Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gujrat, Jhelum, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin and Jhang districts to monitor flood rescue and relief operations.

He also directed the district emergency officers concerned to ensure full support and carry out all efforts to evacuate people and transport them to higher grounds.

Furthermore, leaves of the rescuers have been restricted because of the situation.

Disaster Response Force of Rescue 1122 comprising Commander DRF Dr Farhan Khalid and Deputy Commander Mian Muhammad Ahsan moved to Head Qadirabad in order to provide backup to districts regarding flood relief activities.

NH&MP: Inspector General National Highways & Motorway Police Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema directed all DIGs and SSPs to visit rain and flood-affected areas and contribute to ongoing relief activities.

He further directed them to extend help to local administration in evacuation of victims and livestock from troubled areas.

Cheema also issued directions to provide dry food and clean water to the flood-stricken people. He directed to ensure free flow of traffic on flood affected national highways.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2014