Canal breaches help drain Manchhar

Breaches in canal distributaries are helping reduce water level, draining flood water at a faster pace.

Breaches in canal distributaries of RD-95, 96 and 97 are helping reduce the water level in Manchhar Lake, draining flood water at a faster pace.

The breaches had previously widened to 4,300 feet.

According to Irrigation Department officials, water pressure is persistently increasing on the protective embankments of Sehwan and Bhan Saeedabad as water is flowing into the lake from the Main Nara Valley (MNV) Drain and the FP Bund. However, teams from the Irrigation Department and Wapda are working to avoid potential breaches in defence levees.

The water level on the Indus Highway has also subsided because of a breach near the Bagh Yousuf area. The authorities are trying to fill the breach at RD-11 and ARL head 12. Hundreds of people are still stranded in Bakhtawarpur and Bagh Yousuf.

Hundreds of people have been relocated to safer places as a rescue operation by the Pakistan Army and Navy continues in flooded areas. Relief teams from China and the army are planning to launch a helicopter service from Sunday.

People in Johi are experiencing an acute shortage of food and water as the town remained cut off for the 25th consecutive day on Sunday. Over 10,000 people are still marooned in flooded areas around FP Bund and Suprio Bund. (With additional input from APP)

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2010.