Surging waters threaten Thatta, Larkana

Floodwater flowing from upstream has accumulated high pressure near Larkana and the key Aaqil Aghai loop bund.

As surging floodwaters are swamping towns in Sindh, authorities warn that the next 48 hours are crucial for Thatta and Larkana, the home district of President Asif Zardari. Raging waters swept away a key embankment in Larkana on Monday prompting immediate intervention from President Zardari who directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to repair it as quickly as possible. He warned that action would be taken against “incompetent” officials of the provincial irrigation department.

Floodwater flowing from areas upstream has accumulated high pressure near Larkana district and the key Aaqil Aghai loop bund, only six kilometres away from the city, gave in to the pressure, developing a breach. Sources said that if the breach is not plugged immediately, major cities, including Larkana, Rato Dero, Moenjo Daro and Garhi Khuda Baksh, would be inundated.

In Thatta district, floodwaters overran the village of  Raju Nizamani Goth. After swamping the kachcha areas floodwater is submerging adjoining villages and towns. At least 6,000 people have been rescued and shifted to higher grounds.

Floodwater is also heading towards the National Highway and Kenjhar Lake. The Pakistan Army has been assigned to monitor all embankments, two of which – Soorjani and Moonarki – have been declared sensitive.

At Kotri barrage, the water flow has exceeded its capacity and despite the continuing rise in the water level, 44 gates of the barrier have sustained the pressure so far.

According to the Kotri Barrage control room, water was flowing at the rate of 891,450 cusecs upstream and 869,665 downstream at 9pm on Monday. A Wapda official at Kotri said on condition of anonymity that two out of the three sensors located at the upstream section of the barrage had submerged and now the unit was gathering data through only one device.

Chief Engineer Kotri Barrage Manzoor Shiekh said that despite the fact that the barrage’s capacity was just 875,000 cusecs, there is no imminent threat to the structure. “Kotri can sustain 10 per cent or 100,000 cusecs more  water without being damaged in any way,” he claimed.

Shiekh said that Kotri will not face any second or third wave of floods. He added that the current pressure of exceptionally high floods could last for more than six days.

Fortunately, the flow of water at Sukkur and Guddu barrages showed a decline. At 9pm on Monday, the water flow at Sukkur barrage was 795, 602 cusecs upstream and 750, 602 cusecs downstream, while at Guddu, it stood at 727, 971 upstream and 720, 118 downstream.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2010.