DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Flood victims from Pai village in Tank district blocked the South Waziristan Highway to protest the ‘denial’ of compensation announced by the federal and provincial governments.

During the two hours long demonstration, the villagers demanded immediate payment of Rs1 million for every destroyed house and Rs0.4 for a damaged house as announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the last month visit as well as Rs0.8 for a destroyed house and Rs0.25 million for a damaged house as announced by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.

They earlier staged a protest outside the District Press Club building in Tank city and surrounded the offices of the deputy commissioner.

The downpour-induced flash floods have caused large-scale damage to public life and property in Tank since July 11 with two-thirds of houses in Pai, the largest village in the district, being washed away in floodwaters.

DI Khan records seven deaths by calamity in five days

Flood victims in Pai complained that even one and a half months after making compensation announcements, both federal and provincial governments had yet to give them the promised money.

They said the destruction of houses and denial of rehabilitation had forced them to spend days and nights in the open amid hot and humid weather.

“The district administration hasn’t come to our [flood victims’] help yet and even, the compensation promised by the PM and CM last month has yet to reach us,” a protester said.

He said repeated requests to the authorities for help fell on deaf ears.

The protesters warned that if their demands were not met immediately, they would stage a sit-in outside the Chief Minister’s House.

They dispersed after the administration’s officials showed up and promised an early action on their demands.

FLOOD DAMAGES: The flash floods killed seven people, injured 15 and wreaked havoc on infrastructure in several areas of Dera Ismail Khan district during the last five days, show official figures.

The calamity badly hit 147 villages in Prova, Daraban and Kulachi tehsils and damaged around 8,500 houses.

In a video message, Dera Ismail Khan deputy commissioner Nasrullah Khan said the administration was mobilising all available resources to extend relief and rescue to flood-hit people.

He said four relief camps had been established in Prova and one each in Darazinda and Daraban areas to provide shelter, food and medicines to the people.

The DC said 11 well-equipped rescue teams, including six from neighbouring districts, were carrying out rescue and relief operations in calamity-hit areas, while around 2,000 food packages had been given away to people.

He added that 7,000 people were provided with meal three times a day at relief camps.

Mr Nasrullah said the required heavy machinery such as tractors, bulldozers and excavators were available and utilised as they needed.

He said the people should cooperate with the district administration, rescue agencies and staff in the field and should learn about flood situation or relief activities from the district administration.

The DC also said a flood control room had been established and people in case of any emergency or complaint may contact at 09669280116.

“Dera Ismail Khan commissioner Amir Afaq regularly conducts meetings with officials of the relevant departments, Pakistan Army and police to ensure effective coordination and successful relief and rescue operations,” he said.

Mr Nasrullah said all relevant authorities were making collective efforts to provide the sought-after relief to flood victims and bring life to normal in their calamity-hit areas.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2022