AJK braces for severe monsoon, disaster authorities on high alert

MIRPUR (AJK) , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point news - 18th May, 2026) Director General , State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), Saeed-ur-Rehman Qureshi, has warned that the upcoming monsoon season could be more intense than in previous years, prompting authorities to step up preparedness measures across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

In a statement issued to the media here, Qureshi said the SDMA, Rescue 1122 and all relevant departments were on alert and fully prepared to respond to any emergency situation throughout the region.

He said preparations were being carried out in line with government directives, with rescue machinery and personnel being deployed using all available resources.

The DG added that a campaign to clean rivers and canals had formally begun, alongside desilting operations aimed at preventing waterways from overflowing and threatening nearby communities.

He said settlements vulnerable to flooding and other monsoon-related risks had already been identified, while the authorities were reviewing alternative arrangements to relocate the residents to safer areas if necessary.

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According to the SDMA chief, regular notices were also being issued to people living near natural waterways and drainage channels, urging them to take precautionary measures and cooperate with evacuation efforts during the rainy season.

He further said public awareness campaigns had been launched and systems for timely dissemination of information were being strengthened.

The SDMA has already issued a monsoon advisory, while overall contingency planning has entered its final stages, he said.

He said that practical steps were being taken to ensure the timely availability of essential resources in an effort to protect lives, property and infrastructure and minimise potential losses during the monsoon season.

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