President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday flew to Sukkur, one of the flood-hit area, for a first look at the two-week-old crisis.
The president was briefed by officials of the water, power and irrigation departments regarding the flood situation and relief efforts at Sukkur Barrage.
Gilani visits flood affected Balochistan
Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on the same day donated Rs50 million for the flood victims of Balochistan. He has also announced restoration of subsidy for agriculture purposes in the province.
Talking to the flood victims in Sohbatpoor area of district Jafarabad, Gilani expressed grief over the loss of human lives in different areas of Balochistan. The prime minister assured to provide more funds for the rehabilitation of the victims.
Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan Raisani and provincial ministers were also present on the occasion.
High water levels at Kotri Barrage
The water level on the Indus River is decreasing at the Sukkur and Guddu Barrages, according to the Irrigation Control Room.
In the last few hours inflow and outflow at both barrages have decreased. Guddu is down by 20,000 cusecs and 1,000 cusecs in Sukkur.
However, levels at the Kotri Barrage are still high. The inflow is just over 2.5 million cusecs while the outflow is 1.96 million cusecs.
The Control Room said it expects large scale floods to arrive at Kotri Barrage over the 15th and 16th of August.
Water swallows more villages
Water gushing out of the Begari canal inundated more than a hundred villages near Shikarpur in Sindh.
The Indus Highway is inundated between Shikarpur and Jacobabad and water released from the Begari Sindh feeder has also caused suspension of railway traffic as well.
The breach in Begari Canal has been increasing over the past few days - the Sindh Irrigation Department has yet to close it.
The breach submerged a 3km section of the Sindh-Balochistan railway track near Nawab Jamali and 40 villages in Garhi Khairo area of Jacobabad on Wednesday.
Water gushing out of the Begari canal is swallowing more and more villages as time passes by, including Sheikh Muhammad, Ismail Samejo and Sahib Danu.
Flood waters have also entered Thal city where a flood alert has been issued. The raging waters are now heading toward Karim Bux and Maljhi Pur city.
DCO Kashmore Syed Abid Shah has said that 400,000 people across Jacobabad district have been affected by the floods.
Torrents heading towards Muzaffargarh
A flood torrent from river Indus is closing in on Muzaffargarh city, in Punjab, after wreaking havoc in nearby areas of Nurpur Kabdah and Mubarak Pur.
The flood wave split after passing through Ada Basir and Nurpur Kabdah. Another torrent is also tracing its path towards Jalalabad. The road link to Ali Pur area has been suspended.
The administration has once again issued evacuation warnings for Daira Din Panah, Kot Addu, Sanawan and Mehmood Kot. Flood water is also heading towards Shah Garh and Shah Jamal areas.
Persisting shortage of fuel
Petrol shortage continues for the sixth straight day in South Punjab after the government failed to obtain sales from petrol-pump owners.
Petrol supply from Parco oil refinery in Kot Addu was cut off as a result of heavy flooding. Petrol-pump owners across Southern Punjab have stopped supply of petroleum products even where stocks are available.
The government has failed to take action against illegal petrol suppliers in Multan, Vehari, Khanewal, Kabir wala, Dera Ghazi Khan and other areas.
Customers have alleged that the government has joined hands with the petrol mafia in supplying limited petrol at extremely high prices.
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