Low-level flood sweeps away 600 houses, kills 8
Residents complain that flood water is being released in far off localities to save sensitive areas.
Residents sit on the debris of a demolished house after torrential rains wreaked havoc in the Jamrud district. PHOTO: EXPRESS
FAISALABAD:
At least eight people lost their lives on Monday when the heavy water flow in River Chenab caused it to flood, thereby affecting various nearby districts and localities and swept away over 600 houses.
The areas which were affected by the flood included Chiniot, Jhang, Bhowana, Garh Maharaja and Shah Jewna. As a result, around 200 villages were demolished and over 600 houses were swept away.
Traffic was suspended when the flood also inundated the Sargodha road.
Xen irrigation Mehr Riaz Hussain said that at Taremu Head, the upstream water level was 183,492 cusec while the downstream level was 179,292 cusec.
The water level near Chiniot was found to be at 147,710 cusec but even the low level of water flow led to inundation of about 200 villages, including Mauza Balli Habi, Pakkay Wala, Shah Jewna, Chund Bharwana, Massan, Cheela Kabula, Bhorana, Silyana, Patoana and other villages located near River Chenab.
Residents of villages that are not located near River Chenab complained that the district administration of Jhang had released flood water in other localities to save Garh Maharaja.
Earlier, standing crops were damaged because of the low level flood water but the heavy flood caused damaged to the houses in Jhundwala, Mauza Bukharian, Jamea Abad, Kangran and other localities.
According to flood centre of Taremu Head, a rising water level can cause further damage in Shah Jewna, Chund, Dadona, Lohay Wala, Chak Sundrana, Petrol Pump Basti and Mongar amongst other areas.
The inhabitants of the sensitive areas have already been directed to evacuate to avoid accidents. After the announcements were made by the district administration, the residents started moving to safer places with their carts, tractor trolleys, animals and valuable goods.
As many as 128 villages were affected by the flood water in Chiniot which also demolished over 480 houses and washed away 113,541 acres of standing crops.
Meanwhile, in district Jhang, 76 villages were inundated and 156 houses demolished because of the flood.
A retired engineer of the city, Muhammad Iqbal said, "the recent flood caused damage to the houses by inundating villages and ruining standing crops because the concerned authorities were negligent."
He said, "the Jhang-Sargodha road was normally closed when the flood water was high like in the previous years."
"Now it has been closed because of a very low-level flood," he added.
He said that banks and bridges should have been constructed on the rivers by keeping in line with all the necessary requirements and principles.
At least eight people lost their lives on Monday when the heavy water flow in River Chenab caused it to flood, thereby affecting various nearby districts and localities and swept away over 600 houses.
The areas which were affected by the flood included Chiniot, Jhang, Bhowana, Garh Maharaja and Shah Jewna. As a result, around 200 villages were demolished and over 600 houses were swept away.
Traffic was suspended when the flood also inundated the Sargodha road.
Xen irrigation Mehr Riaz Hussain said that at Taremu Head, the upstream water level was 183,492 cusec while the downstream level was 179,292 cusec.
The water level near Chiniot was found to be at 147,710 cusec but even the low level of water flow led to inundation of about 200 villages, including Mauza Balli Habi, Pakkay Wala, Shah Jewna, Chund Bharwana, Massan, Cheela Kabula, Bhorana, Silyana, Patoana and other villages located near River Chenab.
Residents of villages that are not located near River Chenab complained that the district administration of Jhang had released flood water in other localities to save Garh Maharaja.
Earlier, standing crops were damaged because of the low level flood water but the heavy flood caused damaged to the houses in Jhundwala, Mauza Bukharian, Jamea Abad, Kangran and other localities.
According to flood centre of Taremu Head, a rising water level can cause further damage in Shah Jewna, Chund, Dadona, Lohay Wala, Chak Sundrana, Petrol Pump Basti and Mongar amongst other areas.
The inhabitants of the sensitive areas have already been directed to evacuate to avoid accidents. After the announcements were made by the district administration, the residents started moving to safer places with their carts, tractor trolleys, animals and valuable goods.
As many as 128 villages were affected by the flood water in Chiniot which also demolished over 480 houses and washed away 113,541 acres of standing crops.
Meanwhile, in district Jhang, 76 villages were inundated and 156 houses demolished because of the flood.
A retired engineer of the city, Muhammad Iqbal said, "the recent flood caused damage to the houses by inundating villages and ruining standing crops because the concerned authorities were negligent."
He said, "the Jhang-Sargodha road was normally closed when the flood water was high like in the previous years."
"Now it has been closed because of a very low-level flood," he added.
He said that banks and bridges should have been constructed on the rivers by keeping in line with all the necessary requirements and principles.