Daska, Sambrial fields deluged

Roads cut off as authorities rush to provide relief

DASKA:

Flood-like conditions have emerged in parts of Daska and Sambrial after India released 15,000 cusecs of water into Nullah Aik on Thursday.

The sudden influx has submerged hundreds of acres of land, putting several villages, including Veeram, Dulchikay, Ganjianwali, Qazi Chak and Ismailkay at significant risk.

The floodwaters have caused extensive damage to crops, particularly rice, sorghum and guava orchards, prompting residents to start moving their valuables to safer locations.

Stagnant water on connecting roads has disrupted ground communication, affecting daily life in the region.

In response, the district administration launched relief operations in the affected villages.

All relevant departments have been placed on high alert, and district officers have been prohibited from leaving without permission.

Daska Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Anwar Kanju visited Kotli Maralan and Nullah Aik to oversee cleaning operations at several points using cranes.

"All protective measures, including medical camps, are in place to safeguard the rural population," Kanju said while talking The Express Tribune.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Zulfiqar, along with Assistant Commissioner Sambrial Ahsan Mumtaz Gondal and other officials from the Irrigation Department and Municipal Committee Sambrial, visited the affected areas.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Zulqarnain stated that while Nullah-I presents a high flood risk for Sialkot City, its capacity within the city is 25,000 cusecs, reducing the immediate danger. However, the nullah narrows near Badoki Cheema, Ganjianwali, and Kotli Maralan, where its capacity decreases to 5,000 cusecs, leading to the submersion of agricultural land in Sambrial and Daska.

Local sources report that flood relief camps have been established in the affected areas, with Rescue 1122 teams on duty with flood-fighting equipment.

The Irrigation Department has been instructed to address breaches in the nullah, which frequently overflows during floods.

On Thursday, the water flow in Nullah Aik was approximately 13,000 cusecs, rising to around 78,000 cusecs today.

Meanwhile, 34 villages in Mianwali, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Rajanpur have also been impacted by flooding. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has initiated rescue and relief operations in these areas, particularly in view of the rising water levels in the Indus River.

PDMA DG Irfan Ali Kathia reported that 24 boats and 78 rescue workers are engaged in ongoing rescue efforts.