Sutlej flooding wreaks havoc, forces migrations

VEHARI/ PAKPATTAN:

As the Sutlej River continues to experience severe flooding, the resulting devastation in adjacent villages had led to the migration of people from the affected areas while many others face the looming threat of being drowned out by the unsparing deluge.

The flood water has reached 175,000 cusecs, breaching protective dykes, submerging numerous villages and disrupting transportation links. However, the affected population is taking matters into their own hands to prevent further damage and protect their villages.

The flooding has also resulted in the inundation of hundreds of acres of farmland with standing crops. Villages such as Shahoo Baloch, Baqarki, Mari Amb, Kot Bakhsha, Bheni Noor Jahanian, and others are under threat from the floods.

The situation has prompted the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to assess the damage caused and discuss measures to ensure the safety of vulnerable populations and assets.

The NDMA has issued an advisory, based on information from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), warning that the Sutlej River at Ganda Singh Wala is at a very high flood level.

While the water level is gradually decreasing, the river at Sulemanki is still experiencing a rising trend and is likely to reach a very high flood level. Additionally, the river is expected to reach a high flood level from August 22 onwards at Islam Headworks.

The districts of Kasur, Okara, Bahawalnagar, Pakpattan, Vihari, Bahawalpur, and Lodhran are identified as vulnerable or at-risk areas.

The NDMA advised the relevant authorities to disseminate early warnings, undertake prompt evacuations, and raise public awareness about the risks associated with the monsoon season.

The authorities are also urged to develop contingency plans for traffic and de-watering in urban areas susceptible to flooding.

The directives came as NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik presided over a special National Emergencies Operations Centre (NEOC) session in Islamabad with key stakeholders on the current flood and monsoon situation.

The PMD briefed about the previous days’ rainfall observed in the country.

They also apprised about the expected rainfall in the northeastern parts of the country from August 23 to 25. The PDMA Punjab and Rescue 1122 Punjab briefed about the evacuation, rescue, and relief efforts conducted along the Sutlej River.

The FFD reported that Sulemanki headworks would attain a very high flood level by 22 August and a peak in the flow of River Jhelum will be observed from 23 to 25 August which will affect the Mangla dam levels.

The Mangla and Tarbela Dam management briefed that the water level in dams and contingency measures are in place.

Similarly, the PCIW briefed about the mechanism in place for information sharing between Pakistan and Indian dam management.

Evacuation efforts

Despite the efforts to evacuate people from the low-lying areas along the Sutlej River, there are concerns that the rising water level could lead to flooding in more than 113 villages in Vihari district.

The district administration is making arrangements to address the emergency situation, and joint teams from Rescue 1122, the finance department, and the police are helping evacuate people and move them to safer places.

A number of flood relief camps and tented settlements are being set up to provide necessary aid to victims.

Majid Naqvi, a spokesperson for the district administration, refutes claims that the headworks of the river are in danger, emphasising that there was no risk of embankment cracking.

The ongoing evacuation efforts across the district are ensuring the safety of residents and their livestock. So far, approximately 1,630 people have been relocated to safe areas, and rescue teams are continuing their operations, he said.

Similarly, in Pakpattan, the flood situation has worsened, leading the district education authority to make the decision to temporarily close schools in flood-affected areas.

Academic activities were set to start on August 22 after the summer vacation.

Meanwhile, for the heat-stricken people bearing hot and humid weather conditions for the last few days, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Monday gave the good news of more monsoon rains in various parts of the country from August 23-27 with occasional gaps.