Desperate efforts to save Mehar city

DADU: The authorities and locals struggled on Sunday to prevent surging floodwaters from entering Mehar city, after more than 100 villages in the Mehar taluka were swamped.

The floodwaters that flowed out of the Superio embankment as a result of a breach, reached Mehar bypass, one kilometre away from the city. The situation at the Ring embankment is continuously being monitored by the administration while efforts are being made to divert floodwaters towards Manchar Lake through Johi Barrage.

Mangwani Road has also been breached at several points to direct the flow of water. Sindh Assembly member Fayyaz Butt  said that although the flow of water is very fast, every possible effort is being made to save the city.

Around 90 per cent of the city’s population has already shifted to higher ground while inmates of the Mehar sub-jail have also been transferred to Larkana. Those wanting to migrate however are forced to pay high fares due to a lack of transport. Meanwhile, the water level in Hammal Lake near Warah has also increased. Efforts were made to direct water out of the lake into MNV canal but the water level kept rising and has now reached a dangerous level.

Around 2,000 people are stranded in different areas of Mehar taluka and more than 2,500 flood survivors have been transferred to Mehar city while nine people living in various relief camps in the area have died due to gastroenteritis.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2010.