PRCS on high alert ahead of rain emergency

KARACHI: Mrs Shahnaz S Hamid, Chairman, Pakistan Red Crescent Society Sindh, recently put all the relevant departments of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS), including its district branches, hospitals, ambulances, volunteers, and staff of disaster management, emergency response, and First Aid, on high alert ahead of the monsoon spell expected to lash the city from Thursday to Saturday.

During a recent meeting with volunteers and staff to review the measures, Kanwar Waseem, Provincial Secretary of PRCS-Sindh, asked all the relevant departments and emergency response volunteers to stay on standby in Karachi and other districts of the Sindh Province as the Pakistan Meteorological Department had predicted heavy rains and issued a warning regarding urban flooding.

On the direction of Chairman Shahnaz S Hamid, Provincial Secretary Kanwar Waseem further directed officers of the disaster management, emergency response, and transportation departments to be fully prepared to facilitate citizens in the event of any untoward situation. “We have provided 4X4 vehicles and emergency response material including, first aid kits, stretchers, emergency lights, raincoats, ropes, life jackets, and other emergency-related gadgets to the concerned staff and volunteers of the Red Crescent in every district of Karachi,” said the Provincial Secretary. He directed the heads of all Red Crescent hospitals in Sindh to make arrangements for the rain emergency and ensure doctors and paramedics' presence around the clock. In addition, a control room has been set up at the Hilal-e-Ahmer House Clifton Karachi, which is constantly monitoring the situation and is ready to deploy volunteers and ambulances to provide assistance in times of need.

In a message, the Chairman Shahnaz S Hamid also asked the citizens to avoid unnecessary outings and inform civic institutions in case of any emergency. “The people should also adopt precautionary measures as a thunderstorm has been predicted to hit the city. People should avoid standing under trees, big hoarding boards, and electric poles," she said.

-MN Report