Flood in Sutlej claims five lives

Villagers vacate submerged areas after electrocution, wall collapse, drowning

VEHARI/ PAKPATTAN:

At least five people, including a couple and two children, were killed as the flood in River Sutlej intensified.

Villagers started migrating from the inundated areas along the river after the floodwater claimed lives in Pakpattan and Vehari districts.

A man and his wife living near Gadan Bor dam in the Qubola area were electrocuted by a bare wire in their home. They were identified as Asif and Rani Bibi.

A man, Majeed, died on the spot while Imtiaz was severely injured when the wall of a house surrounded by floodwater collapsed in the Rahmani Malkana village. Imtiaz was referred to Lahore from a hospital in Pakpattan due to his critical condition.

Two children drowned in floodwater near Sahuka in Vehari district.

According to local people, seven-year-old Muhammad Khateeb and eight-year old Khadeeja drowned in the floodwater.

A breach in the Saldera Dam in inundated Balara Lakhoka, Basti Muhammad Hussain Kharal, Mari Amb and adjoining areas, destroying standing crops.

Local officials said around 150 houses had been flooded.

The flow of water in the River Sutlej in the area was 72,000 cusecs, indicating a low-level flood.

A low level flood at Head Islam also submerged two villages and eleven settlements. Crops over hundreds of acres were destroyed.

Local people began evacuating the low-lying areas along the river. The level of the river was continuously increasing because of release of water by India coupled with heavy rains.

The water flow at Head Islam was recorded at 52,000 cusecs.

The floodwater overflowing from Sulaimanki wreaked havoc in areas along the river bed.

Several settlements in the low-lying areas were submerged and residents forced to leave their homes for safety along with their animals.

District administration teams were engaged in relief work. Rescue 1122 personnel were evacuating people to safe places.

A rescue operation by the district administration was also under way in several localities of Bahawalnagar.

The areas of Vehari affected by the floodwater include Mehrabad, Lakha Saldera, Bhini Balochan Wali, Bhini Mian Wali, Bhandi Jatira, Basti Khachianwali, Basti Mamkhera and Basti Mugla.

Floodwater also gushed into Basti Mochianwali, Basti Joianwali, Mouza Koda and Banda Baqir Shah after washing away dykes built by land owners.

Vehari Deputy Commissioner Syed Asif Shah told the media that 13 relief camps had been set up in the flood-affected areas of the district, including those established by Rescue 1122 and the health department.

However, a displaced resident, Allah Rakha, said the facilities taken by the district administration for the affected families were insufficient.

Meanwhile, hill torrents in the Sulaiman Range also flooded the rainwater streams in Taunsa Sharif.

Floodwater flowing from the mountains washed away a local road, causing severe problems for local residents.

According to local people, the road connecting the Buzdar village to Mangarotha was washed away by floodwater following heavy rain on Koh-e-Sulaiman.

On the other hand, the Indus river continued to devastate the Katcha areas of Taunsa Sharif.

Moderate flood was recorded in the Indus at Taunsa Sharif.

With additional input from our correspondents in burewala and Taunsa Sharif

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2023.