KHAIRPUR (Bureau Report): Deputy Commissioner Altaf Ahmed Chachar, who also serves as Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), chaired a high-level meeting to review the district’s preparedness for the ongoing monsoon season and any potential flood emergency.
The meeting, held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Darbar Hall, was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner-I Riaz Ahmed Shaikh, Chief Municipal Officer Ghulam Qadir Tunio, officials of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), the Health Department, and representatives of other relevant departments.
Officials informed the meeting that a comprehensive risk assessment and contingency plan had been prepared in light of the devastating 2022 floods to ensure a timely and effective response to any future emergency.
According to the briefing, Khairpur experienced exceptionally heavy rainfall during the 2022 monsoon, leaving more than 73,000 people displaced and causing extensive damage to agricultural land, standing crops, date palm orchards, and livestock. The worst-affected areas included the talukas of Faiz Ganj, Khairpur, and Mirwah.
The meeting was told that 269 relief camps can be established across the district if required. During the 2022 floods, these camps accommodated 73,294 affected people, providing shelter and other essential services.
Participants also reviewed the district’s healthcare preparedness. Officials stated that Khairpur has 204 functional public health facilities, including Khairpur Medical College, the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), district and taluka hospitals, and 169 Basic Health Units (BHUs). These facilities collectively provide 1,413 hospital beds, 597 doctors, and 62 ambulances to respond to emergencies.
The meeting further examined the condition of key flood protection embankments, low-lying and vulnerable areas, particularly in Khairpur and Sobhodero talukas, as well as the operational readiness of 15 pumping stations responsible for draining rainwater from urban areas.
Addressing the participants, Deputy Commissioner Altaf Ahmed Chachar directed all concerned departments to remain on high alert throughout the monsoon season. He instructed them to ensure that machinery, manpower, and emergency resources remain fully operational and that coordination among departments is further strengthened to guarantee a prompt response to any natural disaster.
He emphasized that protecting the lives and property of the public remains the district administration’s top priority and urged all government agencies to work together under a coordinated strategy to effectively manage any emergency situation.
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