Several more Sindh villages inundated

ISLAMABAD/QUETTA: The Federal Flood Commission has warned that flood torrents could wreak further havoc in Sindh as the water level in River Indus at Guddu and Sukkur barrages is constantly rising.

Because of rising waters at Guddu, Sukkur and Kotri the low-lying areas of Ghotki, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Sukkur, Larkana, Benazirabad, Hyderabad and Nausheroferoz stand the risk of inundation.

Amid this grim prognosis, came a cheery bit of news. The meteorological department said on Tuesday that monsoon currents that triggered torrential rains all over the country are now easing and there is no immediate possibility of another spell of downpours.

“Technically speaking, there is a monsoon break right now…we are not expecting any more heavy rains in the coming seven to 10 days,” said Dr Ghulam Rasul, chief meteorologist at the meteorological department.

But the advancing waters know no stopping. On Tuesday, dozens of more villages of Kotri and Manjhand tehsils in the Jamshoro district came under water. Because of massive flooding of roads, thousands of people are left marooned.

In order to protect Jamshoro’s urban centres from the deluge, a breach was made near the Torri crossing to divert the torrents towards the hilly areas.

According to a Met office update, the River Indus at Guddu is likely to continue in exceptionally high flood level, although the water level at Guddu Barrage has started receding as its upstream and downstream reading was recorded at 10,56,000 cusecs, while yesterday it was 10,76,000 cusecs.

At present, the water level at Sukkur Barrage has been steady for the past eight hours. According to the latest reading, the water flow was 10,25,000 cusecs upstream and 9,93,000 cusecs downstream. Irrigation officials have said that water level at Sukkur Barrage will also start receding after midnight.

Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo ruled out breaching the embankment of Ali Wahan, as according to him there was no threat to Sukkur Barrage. The minister said that flood water has changed its course towards Balochistan districts of Jafferabad and Dera Allahyar thus paving calmer conditions for Jacobabad and Kashmore districts. He added that Jacobabad and Shikarpur are safe and there is no threat of flooding to these towns.

However, with the passage of floods from Sukkur Barrage to Kotri, pressure is mounting on Naushahro Feroze, Dadu, Nawabshah, Hyderabad and Thatta.

According to reports, after inundating Usta Mohammad town, the floods are now moving towards Garhi Khairo where residents have started evacuating their houses.

Meanwhile, a 20-foot wide breach, which had occurred in the embankment of Indus near Dadu-Moro Bridge has further widened to 60 feet due to the tremendous pressure of the water. Reports said that the flood water gushing out of the breach has inundated 15 villages, and is now headed towards the kachcha area.

Similarly, fresh breaches in Saifullah Magsi Canal and Kirthar Canal have further aggravated floods in the plains of Balochistan and are now engulfing part of the adjoining Sindh Plain.

Major breaches in both the canals have already inundated Usta Mohammad, Ghandakha, Ghari Khairo, Shahdad Kot and the floods are now moving towards Jhal Magsi.

Local officials have issued flood warnings for Qubo Saeed Khan, Ghari Khero and Shahdad Kot asking people to immediately evacuate their residences and commercial establishments.

The reason for the major canal breach in Saifullah Magsi Canal and Kirthar Canal could not be known, although local residents attribute it to the incompetence of irrigation officials as they failed to pre-empt the canal breaches whereas all the flood gates of major barrages were opened to allow the super flood to pass without destroying the basic infrastructure.

The road link between district Jhal Magsi and rest of the country has been disrupted as a result of the flooded highway. The power supply of Jhal Magsi, Jaffarabad, and Rojhan Jamali also remained suspended and Balochistan’s rail link with Sindh could not be restored for the fifth consecutive day.

(ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SARFARAZ MEMON IN SUKKUR)

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2010.