Dykes cut to protect towns: CM

Says 80% of Sukkur city cleared of rainwater; Mirpurkhas faces flooding threat


Our Correspondent September 03, 2022

KARACHI:

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that various protective bunds are under pressure posing threat to some major towns and cities but the decision to give a relief cut to protect towns and villages has been given to the irrigation expert with the authorized of Irrigation minister.

"We have protected various villages and towns and, in this struggle, today village, Abdullah Shah- the birthplace of my father has been flooded with the rising water in Manchhar Lake," he said addressing a press conference at CM House. Information Sharjeel Memon, Advisor Murtaza Wahab, and Advisor Rasool Bux Chandio were present on the occasion.

The chief minister said that the water level was continuously rising in taluka Warah of the Kamber Shahdadkot district. Which borders with Balochistan. The natural flow was towards Dhamrah Wah. A cut in Mehar and Suprio Band has diverted water towards Warah via Dharma. Rainwater was still inundating Dhamrah Wah, he said adding that people in have been alerted after advise from the Irrigation Department.

The CM said that Nasirabad and Qubo Saeed Khan were safe. The water level has come down and was receding further. However, most of the rural areas are completely submerged.

Sukkur

Over 80% of Sukkur urban areas have been cleared of rainwater and the remaining will be cleared in two days as 40 additional pumping machines are working day and night to support disposal stations.

Meanwhile, in Matiari district, the Saeedabad town was completely submerged and its four union councils were inundated. The Dadu city did not have an imminent threat of inundation, however, rural areas were 80% inundated and efforts were underway to clear them.

Around 85% of Khairpur Nathan Shah was still inundated. RD-95 dyke was cut that caused water to flow from Mehar to Superior Band.

Dadu city at this point and time was not under an imminent threat as the left embankment of the MNV Drain was being strengthened, constantly monitored and machinery is available. The water level at MNV Drain has receded about one foot from the Hamal Lake.

Similarly, Johi city was being defended through a ring dyke which is being constantly monitored, and patrolled by locals but its rural area is 90% flooded.

Khairpur Nathanshah town was inundated. About 85% of the town is underwater except for a couple of neighborhoods. Rescue operations with Army, Navy, and Edhi are going on.

Similarly, Mehar Town is also being defended by a ring dyke. Though the pressure of water is constant and threatening locals along with machinery and material provided by the government are alert, monitoring, and patrolling for saving the town from inundation. The levels of water along with Suprio Dyke may rise due to a reported breach at RD 95 in Dhamrah Waah. The Rescue Relief operations are going on and are assisted by Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy.

Larkana

The CM said that water has been drained out from 85% urban areas of Larkana including Larkana city, Ratodero, Naudero, Dokri, Badah, Arija, Gerrelo. The monsoon spell has badly affected the Sanghar district where 90% of crops were completely damaged, and the water was standing in fields. Around 35,000 people were residing in relief camps and 300,000 were displaced and settled in tents on roadside.

Moving southwards, the CM explained, major cities of Sanghar, Tando Adam, Shahdadpur, Sinjhoro, Shahpur Chakur, Khipro, and Hathungo have been cleared of rainwater.

Mirpurkhas

Referring to the situation in Mirpurkhas district, the CM said water was being rapidly released from Sanghar district through Sanghar and Khipro towns which was causing severe flooding in the entire Sindhri town, while 90% of taluka Kot Ghulam Muhammad was still inundated.

The flood level at the three barrages in Sindh showed a slight increase on Friday as new torrents from the northern parts of the country enter the lower riparian province.

The irrigation department recorded 558,218 cusecs at Guddu, 531,865 cusecs at Sukkur and 447,024 cusecs at Kotri on Friday morning. On Thursday the readings were 540,493 cusecs at Guddu, 529,817 cusecs at Sukkur and 438,162 cusecs at Kotri.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2022.

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