Flood havoc: Bodies of four children recovered from water

500,000 cusecs deluge expected to reach Taunsa Barrage in 48 hours.


Our Correspondents July 28, 2015
Residents dismantling a house in view of flood warnings in Dera Ghazi Khan. PHOTO: ONLINE

RAJANPUR/ BAHAWALPUR/ MULTAN/ SARGODHA/ BHAKKAR/ KASUR:


Bodies of four children have been recovered from flood water, Rescue-1122 officials said on Tuesday.


Four year old Sakina drowned in Rahim Yar Khan, five-year-old Samina drowned in Mohana village, Chachran Sharif, Hadi Hassan in Layyah and three-year-old Muhammad Tayyab in Kehror Lal Eisan.

Falah-i-Insaniyiat Foundation in charge Dr Rana Ataur Rehman said they had recovered three bodies from flood water in Kot Mithan, Layyah and Rojhan Mazari.

A 500,000 cusecs deluge is expected to reach Taunsa Barrage in the next 48 hours. All villages in the area are being evacuated, Local Government Secretary Khalid Masood said on Tuesday.

They said flood protection works were being monitored and fortified with heavy machinery. They said around 7,000 people had been shifted to safe locations.

Bahawalpur Regional Police Officer Ehsan Sadiq has issued directions to district police officers in three districts regarding the flood situation. He said recent torrential rains had placed lives of people living next to the river in jeopardy. The RPO has ordered immediate evacuation of livestock and people.

The RPO told the Rahim Yar Khan DPO that criminals living along the kacha area near Indus River had moved towards cities. He cautioned against a possible spike in crime rate. “Sufficient steps must be taken to secure the cities.”

Around 100,000 cusecs water flowed through the Panjnad Headworks on Tuesday. A flood warning is issued once water level exceeds 160,000 cusecs. The water level is expected to rise in the coming 10 to 15 days.

Bahawalpur DCO Imran Sikandar Baloch held a meeting at his office to review arrangements concerning a possible flood situation. He directed relevant departments to stay alert at all times and complete rescue arrangements. He also directed the relevant assistant commissioners to conduct surveys in coordination with Irrigation Department and collate data on the number of people and cattle in the area.

The DCO told Health and Livestock Departments to vaccinate people and cattle against water-borne diseases without delay.

According to statistics from the Sargodha Flood Control Centre, the water level at Chiniot and Khushab has been rising steadily. Water at Marala, Khanki and Rasul Barrage receded on Monday-Tuesday.

In Bhakkar, a 21km-long bund is being closely monitored. Heavy stones have been piled against the dykes. The idea is to control the potential damage by 600,000 cusecs expected to flow through the area in the coming days.

Villages in Dhandala, Mianwali, Machi and Ghum union councils have been submerged and erosion of the riverbank at Dera Billu Chanwala has damaged some agricultural land. Flood water has been inching towards other villages and has entered the kacha area.

A report received at 6pm on Tuesday said 589,000 cusecs water had entered Chashma Barrage and 587,000 cusec water was leaving it. The water level in River Indus has been rising steadily. A high-level flood at Dera Darya Pul has been reported.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2015.

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