Monsoon 2013: Flood washes away dykes, settlements

Water causes devastation in South Punjab districts.

MULTAN:

Flood in Indus, Sutlej and Chenab on Monday heavily affected eight small dykes in south Punjab, making breaches and causing inundation of adjoining areas.

The flood caused great devastation in Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh, Multan and Layyah and almost 200,000 acres of agricultural lands and 500 small rural settlements came under water in last 48 hours.

Only in Layyah district, a more than 550-feet breach emerged in Seepar Dyke in Shah Wala yesterday evening.

The breach was repaired after sixteen hour efforts with the help of more than 300 local people who had come to assist district administration and irrigation department.

Layyah has been affected by two major breaches in recent floods. These floods have destroyed more than 60,000 acres of crops.

The major flood spells have also caused pressure at different dykes near Head Panjnad. Two dykes have been washed away in last 48 hours. First of them was Katbaal near Seetpur.  Ten villages were flooded after the destruction of the dyke.



Second incident happened at union council Bait Mullah Waali where Khallel Shikrani Dyke gave way under flood’s pressure.

The floods have submerged 130 small rural settlements. Water has also entered in sub district Alipur of district Muzaffargarh.

In district Multan, the major devastations took place in sub district Jalalpur Peer Waal, where 20,000 acres of agricultural land submerged due to breach in Abbas Waala Dyke. Till the last information 80 small rural settlements had also gone under water.

In district Vehari, River Sutlej caused devastation and 20 small rural settlements submerged after a breach appeared in Lakha Sadera. 1,300 victims have been evacuated by district administration.

Breaches also appeared in Bahawalpur in Budh Pur Dyke, Gidh Pura Dyke and Zameendara Dyke. No life loss was reported but more than 70 small rural settlements submerged. In Multan, the water level in Ravi created threats for Khanewal and Vehari.  The water level at Head Islam may cause problems for Vehari district and Lodhran. Water has already entered Saraay Sidhu rural area of Khanewal.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2013.