LAHORE (National Times) Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Ali Kathia Saturday issued instructions to the deputy commissioners across the province to remain alert in view of heavy rains in various districts.

Kathia said that the departments concerned should be alerted to deal with the emergency situation.

The district emergency operation centres of all the districts including the provincial control room have also been alerted.

The monitoring of the situation in the PDMA control room continued 24/7 and 1122 and other rescue agencies have been asked to keep their machinery and staff alert all the time.

Kathia said that the drainage of water from residential areas should be done as soon as possible.

Citizens should be careful and stay away from power poles, hanging wires and dilapidated buildings, he added.

He urged the citizens to call PDMA’s helpline 1129 for assistance and take special care of children and never let them go near water that collects in low-lying areas.