ith local administrations and relevant institutions on their toes following unexpected heavy rains during the ongoing monsoon season, citizens need to adopt precautionary measures to help mitigate the effects of disaster and save precious lives and properties.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Rescue 1122, Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) and the Punjab health authorities have issued advisories for the general public to prevent loss of lives and properties during and after the rains.

The Meteorological Department of Pakistan has forecast heavy rains in the coming weeks. These might generate urban flooding in low lying areas and cause outbreak of diseases in various parts of the province.

Simple precautionary measures help prevent personal losses, which otherwise may quickly turn into community crisis and larger disasters.

Imtiaz Ghauri, a spokesman for WASA-Lahore, advises people not to go outside unnecessarily; avoid living in dangerous buildings/ worn-out houses; not live in under-construction buildings during the rainy season; not to undertake deep digging; not throw trash in drains or sewers; and to avoid touching electrical instruments or wires that are wet or soaked in rainwater. He especially advises parents to keep children away from electric wires and electric poles during the rainy season.

The PDMA discourages people from swimming or taking bath in rivers, canals or flood drains during the rainy season.

It also advises people living in lowlands to shift their valuables from basements or lower/ ground floor to upper storey or higher land. Weak walls and roofs should be strengthened.

According to Rescue 1122 data of various rain-related emergencies on an average in a single day, there are 116 falls/ slips including 77 serious and 33 minor emergencies resulting in an average of a death a day. There are 21 electric shock cases, including 11 serious and seven minor ones and a reported death a day on average. Similarly, there are two incidents of drowning a day resulting in deaths. Rain-related medical emergencies also constitute a significant proportion of daily medical emergencies.

The Met Office has warned that unusual weather conditions may trigger landslides in vulnerable areas of Murree, Galliyat, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Tourists have been advised to remain extra cautious during the wet spell.

Wind-thunderstorms may damage trees and/ or loose structures like electric poles, advertising hoardings and billboards, solar panels, etc. The general public is, therefore, advised to stay at safe places during wind-storm/ heavy rains.

Following massive spells of rains across the province, the Punjab health authorities have also issued an alert for the possible outbreak of diseases.

Health professionals fear that the ongoing spells of heavy rains may generate mosquito breeding sites and cause outbreak of diseases like dengue fever, malaria and hepatitis. They warn that the hospitalisation risks are higher owing to the expected outbreak of waterborne diseases and stomach-related illnesses.

Dr Salman Kazmi from Mayo Hospital, Lahore, tells The News on Sunday that a rush of patients is being witnessed in emergencies with complaints of gastroenteritis, diarrhea, vomiting and pain, eye infections and skin diseases due to heavy rains. “Snakebite have dramatically increased. Some of the snake bites cause bleeding, others are neurotoxic and cause paralysis,” he says, adding that anti-venom medicines are available in hospitals.

He says that hospitals have made arrangements with sufficient stock of medicines to provide efficient treatment to the patients.

He urges people to ensure cleanliness and personal hygiene. He also advises them to consume fresh and hygienic food and filtered/ boiled water. People must not use stored/ refrigerated food items. Dairy items should be checked because they risk going bad quickly during hot and humid weather, after the rains.

The citizens may register complaints with local administration or seek help in a disaster situation through the relevant department’s helpline. “A lot of accidents can be prevented through awareness and simple precautions,” the official says. He requests people to cooperate with the officials of local administration and law enforcement institutions.

The writer is an investigative journalist associated with The News International, Pakistan. An EWC and GIJN fellow, he also contributes to various international media outlets. He tweets at @AmerMalik3