Sukkur Barrage maintenance: Six houses collapse as water flows downstream

Irrigation authority says the residents had occupied land too close to their river.

SUKKUR: Around six houses collapsed and at least a dozen more are likely to fall as water was released downstream Sukkur Barrage on Thursday.

Barrage authorities announced the annual closure of the facility between January 6 and January 20 for maintenance.

During this time, all seven off-taking canals of the barrage were to be closed and water was to be released downstream. As the authorities followed these procedures on Thursday, water gushed down and submerged several houses.

When the first house collapsed, a resident rushed to a nearby mosque and made an announcement, asking everyone to vacate their houses and save their lives. Panic spread among the residents, who started moving towards the main road. Some men and women put their children in the highland area and then made their way back to collect their belongings.

Even though, fire trucks and the police rushed to the site, they did not take part in rescue efforts. Officials from the district administration have yet to make an appearance.

Residents are also being forced to take refuge on the roadside in the cold weather. Some families managed to bring their blankets but others have no other option but to watch their homes being swept away. People whose houses are located close to the road have also provided blankets and quilts to this makeshift camp.

Irrigation authorities said that when the water starts receding it takes away a large amount of sand from the embankments.

The residents of Katcha Bunder had occupied land too close to the river and that is why their houses collapsed, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2011.