Raging waters kill 14 people, inundate hundreds of houses and destroy crop over thousands of acres. PHOTO: EXPRESS
BAHAWALPUR/ FAISALABAD:
As floods swell Punjab’s three major rivers – Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab –water continued to wreak havoc across the province, destroying lives, houses, villages and crops.
Heavy floods raised the water level in the river Chenab which hit the nearby localities and villages in Chiniot, Jhang, Bhowana, Garh Maharaja and Shah Jewna. The floodwater also inundated the Sargodha Road, suspending all kinds of traffic.
“The water level near Chiniot was 147,710 cusecs but this low level water also caused inundation of about 200 villages including Mauza Balli Habi, Pakkay Wala, Shah Jewna, Chund Bharwana, Massan, Cheela Kabuli, Bhorana, Silyana, Patoana and other villages lying along both sides of the river,” Xen irrigation Mehr Riaz Husain said.
Earlier, low level floods had caused damage to the standing crops but now the heavy floods have caused damage to the houses in Jhundwala, Mauza Bukharian, Jamea Abad, Kangran and other localities.
According to a flood centre, a 400,000 cusec water flow will also pass through Taremu Head which can also cause heavy inundation in more area of Shah Jewna, Chund, Dadona, Lohay Wala, Chak Sundrana, Petrol Pump Basti, Mongar and adjoining localities.
Meanwhile high level flood in the river Ravi destroyed thousands of acres of crop in Sahiwal, Harrapa and Tulamba (District Multan). The destruction took place as 170,000 cusecs of water swelled the river.
At Kamoke water inundated more than 500 houses and flooded roads and streets. Due to flood in Hasri and Nullah Dek, 70 more villages went under water in Pasro. The Nullah Dek’s water washed away many embankments and entered the areas adjoining GT Road. The water entered many industrial units and flooded 80 villages in Kala Shah Kako.
In Ferozwala floodwater reached 35 villages and destroyed dozens of houses. The flood also caused partial damage to another 25 villages.
Flood has entered many localities of Multan and army has been deployed at embankments. It is reported that due to the low level flood in Chenab, around 100 localities in Multan and Muzaffargarh have been flooded.
The swelling of River Chenab inundated several villages including Sohadra, Behramrana, Luweriwala, Wazirabad, Aliabad, Jabkay Chattah, Mundiala, Rasulnagar, Chak Alisher, Phaloki and Head Khanki.
Some 42,000 acres had been submerged causing damage to cotton and other crops. Other areas include Aimanabad, Kamoki, Wandhu, Sahukee and Kalisuba where 30,000 acres of cultivated land was submerged.
There is a threat of high flood near Kasoor as India released 170,000 cusecs of water in the river Sutlej. 80,000 cusecs of water was passing through Ferozepur Headworks. Flood warning has been issued to the 50 villages of Ganda Singh Wala and localities close to the river including Kothi Fateh Muhammad, Baqarki and hundreds of villages of Kanganpur. Dozens of villages of Pakpattan may also be affected by flood in Sutlej.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th, 2013.
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