Indus in high flood at Kotri

SUKKUR: River Indus continued to flow in high flood at Kotri Barrage on Wednesday, threatening more areas in Sindh.

According to the Irrigation Department, water inflow at the Kotri Barrage was 0.61 million cusecs while outflow was recorded at 0.59 million cusecs. The Federal Flood Commission (FFC) said that the high flood situation at Kotri was expected to continue for the next three to four days and could result in flooding in low-lying areas of Hyderabad, Thatta and Badin districts.

Adjoining areas along both sides of River Indus, upstream and downstream of Kotri Barrage, are also under danger of inundation, including Shahdadkot, Sujawal, Jamshoro, Matiari and Keti Bandar.

High pressure on MNV drain continues while a breach developed near the village of Allah Bachaio Jamali could not be filled. Thirty-nine more villages were inundated in Sindh and a breach in the FP embankment near Johi has stretched to 150 feet, submerging 17 villages. Despite orders by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, the breach is yet to be plugged.

Flood water, which entered the western districts of Sindh after breaking Tori Bund, hit three sub-districts of Dadu including Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Johi. Pressure is now increasing on the embankment to the left of the MNV drain. The embankment is considered to be the last lifeline to protect Dadu and other cities and villages of the taluka.

Meanwhile, according to reports only a one-foot-thin line is left between the Manchhar Lake and River Indus at Morlak. The water level in Hamal Lake has risen to the dangerous level of 13.5 feet and a constant increase has been recorded there, despite the fact that doors have been opened by five feet. The cities of Warah, Naseerabad, Mehar and Radhan are now under threat.

Meanwhile, water level has receded at Manarki Dyke in Thatta District but water pressure at Kot Aalmoon Dyke is hampering the efforts to fill the breach. Water has begun to subside in Daro, Mirpur Bhatoro and Chohar Jamali, and people who had fled these areas following flood warnings have begun returning home. (With additional input from APP)

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2010.