Floods ravage provinces

Death and destruction increased on Wednesday as floods continue to devastate provinces.


Express August 04, 2010

The death toll and number of displaced people is increasing rapidly as the floods continue to ravage provinces across Pakistan.

Dera Ismail Khan

More than 800,000 people have been displaced in Dera Ismail Khan as the DI Khan-Bannu Road has been broken at two places to allow the flood to pass through.

The district administration has reported that continuous torrential rains have ended after two days in DI Khan causing devastation on a large scale. Most of the city remains submerged after 48 hours due to a bad sewerage system.

Locals complain that the district administration has failed to provide relief to them.

Meanwhile, 22 people have been killed and more than 150 injured in Dera and Tank by the floods. Fourteen people are also reported missing.

DIG Dera Imitiaz Shah has said the police has established fifteen relief camps in these areas. The land route from Dera Pindi to Dera Peshawar has been suspended once again.

Rahim Yar Khan

Raging flood water is heading towards Abadpur and Chacheran Sharif in District Rahim Yar Khan after breaking a protective embankment on the River Sindh.

The District adminstration has ordered immediate evacuation of Chachran Sharif. But the locals are not leaving the area despite repeated warnings and announcements.

Rojhan city is also under threat by flood water as it is feared that rising water levels may damage a dyke. The flood-stricken people have protested against the government for not providing adequate relief.

Kot Addu

In Punjab, floodwaters have deluged numerous villages and have begun pouring into major urban centers such as the city of Kot Addu.

Kot Addu has been completely inundated by flood water. More than 800,000  have been stranded in the area without food and drinking water.

Torrents of flood water have entered Kot Addu severely affecting Cinema Chowk, Naqdabad, Gharibabad and Railway road.

The Lower Kot Sultan lake dyke has also collapsed. Water has risen to three to four feet in the area. Thousands of people are trying to flee, but are facing problems as transporters have raised fares. No relief activities have been provided in Kot Addu.

Meanwhile, the army is assisting in the evacuation of those affected from Daira Deen Panah which has been completely destroyed.

Mahmood Kot Laal Pir Power plant is also in danger as Muzaffargarh Lake canal has collapsed.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif was briefly stranded in Daira Din Panah when visiting the area to oversee relief activities and to visit victims.

Zhob

Dyke in Zhob has burst, as heavy rains lash the northern and eastern districts of Balochistan. Floods caused by heavy rains and the burst dyke washed away scores of homes.

Meanwhile, rains continue to hit Kohlu, Barkhan, Jaffarabad and Naseerabad areas of Balochistan.

Low-lying areas of Naseerabad and Jafferabad have been inundated due to the rains and the electricity and communication infrastructure has been affected severely.

In the Gota Karim Bux area, the roof of a house collapsed, killing three children and injuring three people.

Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani has directed the administration of affected areas to use all resources to help the people.

Sindh

About 100,000 additional cusecs of water has entered Guddu Barrage and the water level is rapidly rising in River Indus.

The water level at Guddu Barrage now stands at 470,000 cusecs. While in Sukkur Barrage the water level is at 225,000 cusecs.

The meterological department has predicted that torrential rains will continue for the next two days and River Indus will be in a very high flood situation. This may cause devastation on a large scale.

The rains are also causing problems in evacuating thousands of residents living near the two barrages.

The army has established camps on three locations and has directed the officials to remain vigilant.

COMMENTS (1)

Shehryar Mazari | 13 years ago | Reply For the past week residents of the Sonmiani area of District Rajanpur have struggled to strengthen their river 'bunds' or dykes. These privately constructed structures are over forty years old and have survived many floods, including the 1,300,000 cusec 'Super Flood' of 1992. For the past twenty years I have witnessed several 'high floods' sweep past us as my neighbours and I kept anxious night and day vigils perched on these dykes. Over the years only one thing has remained constant. No government official has ever bothered to visit, let alone help these tens of thousands of locals in their time of need. So once again in the pouring monsoon rain hundreds of the locals are perched on the dykes hoping and praying that this latest 'Super Flood' sweeps past us leaving everyone's families, homes, livestock and farmland safe. Only time will tell if we survive this one...
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ