No imminent threat to Muzaffargarh

KARACHI: The level of water in the flood torrent near Muzaffargarh continued to recede on Thursday morning with a slight increase in its intensity later in the day, posing no imminent threat to the city.

Although Multan Corps Commander Lt Gen Shafqaat Ahmed had already declared Muzaffargarh safe in a press briefing on Wednesday, the continuous decrease in the water-level of the flood torrent over the last two days and breaches created by the army at several points in its route, have secured the city from inundation.

According to reports received on Friday evening, the flow of water in the flood torrent was recorded to be around 850,000 cusecs per day on Wednesday night. On Thursday, however, the flow of water in the torrent stood at around 750,000 cusecs a day which further decreased to 690,155 cusecs per day on Friday morning. Although the flow of water increased to 779,000 cusecs a day in the Taunsa Barrage – the primary point of threat to Muzaffargarh - on Friday evening, there appears to be no immediate danger to the city since the army has created breaches at some key points along the route of the flood torrent, managing to divert it into barren land. The Met office has predicted that another flood torrent may head towards the city in the next 10 days but the flow of water in that will be much less – around 500,000 cusecs per day.

Several people who left the city in a rush when the flood warning was first issued are now returning home. They are however being stopped by authorities as there is still cause for alarm, particularly due to high flood in the Taunsa Barrage. Many of those heading back home had migrated to relief camps in Multan, some of whom had left their family members behind in a state of panic.

Some reports also suggest that the administration paid special attention to the situation emerging in Muzaffargarh because many politically influential families belong to the area.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2010.