CM Sindh visits Thatta, battle continues to save the city

CM Sindh has criticised the fact that not a single penny of international aid has reached the flood victims.

THATTA: Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah has criticised the fact that not a single penny of international aid has reached the flood victims for whom it was intended.

Speaking at the Circuit House Thatta, CM Sindh said that thousands of people would have suffered if the government had waited for international help instead of starting relief work on their own.

Talking numbers, Shah said that more than 1.4 million people are affected by the floods in Sindh so far and these figures can increase to 5.4 million in the coming days.

The chief minister also spoke about the rescue and relief operations in the province and said that efforts are underway to rehabilitate the victims. The relief camps have been set up in Thatta on emergency basis for the people who were not willing to relocate to Karachi, CM Sindh added.

A breach in the KB feeder canal near Khatiyaan has submerged the nearby villages. Locals said that the breach has yet to be repaired. As the damage was not repaired on timely basis, the breach in the canal is now 40-foot wide.

Villages such as Goth Fateh Muhammad Jhakhro and Ahmed Ali Jhakhro are now inundated.

The flood has now touched the edge of the National Highway, threatening the route to Hyderabad. Villagers said that it has been at least 12 hours since the canal breached but it still has not been repaired.

Qambar Shahdad Kot

Nine more villages in the Warah area of Qambar Shahdad Kot district have been inundated, with flood torrents reaching the bordering areas of District Dadu.

In Warah, 30 villages of Union Council Gaji Khawad and 60 villages of Union Council Mirpur have been submerged so far.

The water level in the Hamal Lake is rising at an alarming rate and thousands of hectares of crops have been destroyed. Increasing water pressure at the FP dyke is posing a threat to nearby villages.

Water has entered 10 other villages including Faqir Muhammad Lodrani area following 2 breaches at the MNV drain.

Meanwhile, water pressure at Aqil Agani dyke has remained steady for the past 6 days and efforts are underway to keep the dike intact.

Sukkur

The water level at Sukkur Barrage has decreased by 50,000 cusecs and the current inflow is over 600,000 cusecs while outflow is at 562,000 cusecs.

At Guddu Barrage, the water level has decreased by 15,000 cusecs in the last 24 hours. The water inflow at the barrage stands at over 576,000 cusecs with an outflow of 565,000 cusecs.

The Sukkur Barrage Control Room has indicated that water levels will continue to decrease in the coming days.

Southern Punjab

As water levels recede at several places, a large number of flood victims in southern Punjab are returning to their homes to pick up the pieces but they are facing a challenging task, as the road links have not been restored in many areas, including Mubarki, Chatrota, Fazla and tribal areas of Dera Ghazi Khan. This has also caused severe food shortage in these areas.

Moreover, they have not received any financial help from the government and they are in dire straits.

The survivors are also facing a serious threat posed by the waterborne diseases that are on the rise due to stagnant water in the flood-stricken areas.