Sulaiman range torrents flood villages

Canal breached to save population; camps set up

DERA GHAZI KHAN:

More than 20 villages were submerged due to floods as rainstorms continued to lash the Koh-e-Sulaiman region on Tuesday.

Two flood dams in the area burst during the rain that flooded the Rod Kohi irrigation channels carrying overflowing water from hill torrents.

The district administration converted nearby schools into flood relief camps for the people displaced by the floods in the Vidor and Suriland areas.

According to sources, floodwaters also reportedly damaged thousands of tonnes of wheat stored by the food department.

The authorities breached the Manka canal near Basti Gul Muhammad Chandia to save the population and valuable property from the floods.

On the other hand, Dera Ghazi Khan Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Anwar Briar ordered evacuation of the people, livestock and valuables to a safe place to avoid losses. Food supply to the displaced people was also started.

Divisional Commissioner Muhammad Usman Anwar and Regional Police Officer Saleem Chaudhry reached Rajanpur to review the situation, while Chief Secretary Kamran Afzal sought a report.

The flooding in mountain streams due to continuous rains in Koh-e-Sulaiman and other areas of Dera Ghazi Khan has submerged at least 20 settlements.

The flooding left a number of people marooned, forcing some of them to shelter under trees outdoors.

Deputy Commissioner Anwar Briar reviewed the situation in flood-affected areas along the Vidor and Suriland streams, including Basti Ahmadani, Shadan Lond, Basti Gul Muhammad, Malinga, Lohar Wala, Vidor, Basti Rustamani and Basti Aliani.

He visited the Pul Vidor and Indus Highway and inquired from the local people about the situation.

The deputy commissioner supervised the breach of the Manka canal using heavy machinery on the suggestion of experts to save the populated areas. Floodwater was drained from the canal the Malinga and Gul Muhammad Chandia localities.

The official said the district administration would provide all possible relief to the people of the affected areas. However, to avoid any loss, the local people should move to safe places with livestock and valuables, he added.

He told the flood victims that relief camps had been set up in the affected areas of Rod Kohi Vidor and Suriland. Nearby educational institutions have been converted into relief camps and people of Basti Malinga, Basti Gul Muhammad and other flood-affected areas can stay in the nearby primary, middle and high schools.

The district administration is providing accommodation, food and other facilities to the flood victims.

The deputy commissioner said the whole district administration was working to help the flood victims.

About 97,000 cusecs of floodwater flow was recorded in Rod Kohi Vidor in addition to high flow in Suriland. Two flood dams burst due to severe flooding in the torrents.

Local people told The Express Tribune that standing crops over hundreds of acres had been damaged and the flooded settlements including Basti Shahuwala, Basti Khosa, Bandwani Mamori, Gadpur, Sanjarwali, Tarnaman, Ganman, Paddan Sharqi, Yaro Khosa, Pul Qambar, Ada Chowkiwala, Shah Pur, Basti Onar, Chak Shaheed, Dhing, Safdarabad, Ahsani, Muhammadpur Gumwala and Sonwah.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2022.