NAROWAL: Seven labourers trapped due to a sudden flash flood in Bayan nullah were rescued.

Reports said after heavy rains in Indian-held Kashmir, India released water into the rain drain. Rescue 1122 safely pulled out the people trapped in the water.

Suddenly, at 12:15pm, the rain channel entering Pakistan from Indian-held Kashmir flooded. Two labourers and three farmers working in the fields were trapped near Mardwal village of Shakargarh tehsil due to the flood.

Rescue 1122 spokesman Harmat Ali said the control room received a call that 33-year-old Muhammad Asif and 40-year-old Muhammad Imran were putting sand in a tractor-trolley in Barsati Nala Bayan. The two labourers were trapped due to a sudden flood on the left side.

He said rescuers reached the spot and safely pulled out the people trapped there. Panic spread among the villagers living on the left side of the nullah.

Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Engineer Naeem Akhtar claimed that India suddenly released water due to heavy rains in Occupied Kashmir. He stated that the safe discharge in the rain drain is 6,000 cusecs, but water coming from India was more than 7,000 cusecs.

Mr Akhtar said five farmers working in the fields, including Ehtsham, 18, Abdul Rasheed, 75 and Muhammad Rahim, 55 were trapped in the water. He said the Rescue 1122 team had safely moved the five farmers to a secure place.

Local residents Allah Ditta and Qamar Ali said due to the non-closure of the rain drain, the flood water overflows, damaging crops in the fields and nearby residential areas.

Owing to rains in Occupied Kashmir and India, the water level is also rising in the Ravi, rainwater channels Oj and Basantar.

Narowal Deputy Commissioner Syed Hasan Raza said that there is no danger from the water flow. He stated that the Narowal district administration has completed all preparations to deal with possible floods. He assured that Rescue 1122 and other related organisations are on alert.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2024