Upper Sindh on red alert as water level surges

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

ISLAMABAD (updated on: August 18, 2010, 12:10 PST): Authorities have issued fresh warnings for Kot Sabzal for evacuation as water level in Sindh is surging, while areas of upper Sindh including Shahdad Kot, Sajawal, Rato Dero and Qabo Saeed Khan have also been declared red zone.

The flood has turned directions towards Keerthar Canal in Jacobabad after water was seen flowing backwards due to destruction of gates located at Karang Regulator near Shahdadkot, a private news channel reported.

DCO Shahdadkot directed evacuation of 150 villages including Qabo Saeed Khan on emergency basis after the district was alerted against potential flooding.

25 villages located in Tehsil Manjhand of Jamshoro District have been flooded, leaving thousands of people stranded. A gigantic flood torrent is marching towards Larkana and Khairpur districts after a huge crack was developed in under construction security bund aimed at turning direction of River Indus away from civic population in both the districts.

The level of floodwater spread around Jacobabad district is rising alarmingly owing to arrival of more water from broken bund along Indus River.

Meanwhile, Guddu and Sukkur Barrages are in exceptionally high flood while a medium flood is reported at Kotri Barrage.

Water flow at Guddu is 10, 767, 86 cusecs and outflow 10, 761, 90 cusecs while in Sukkur inflow is 10,256, 30 cusecs and outflow 9,938,80 cusecs.

River Swat at Khwazakhela, River Kabul at Nowshehra and River Adezai at Adezai are all in high flood on Wednesday.

A notice has been issued to about 150 villages in Kabu Saeed Khan tehsil of Jacobabad district to evacuate immediately as flash floods are approaching the area.

Jacobabad remained cut off from other parts of Sindh for the last three days.

A special train service is operating in the area for transportation of people to safe places, the report said.

Local people formed a protecting bund along Indus River to safeguard Kunbhar Shahdadkot district from floodwater.

Executive Engineer Keerthar Canal Munawar Baudar said that arrangements had been finalised to fill the 100-meter wide breach that appeared in Dadu-Moro Road a few days ago.

Inspection, at embankments located in Jamshoro, Hyderabad and Latifabad districts along River Indus, has been tightened for fear of potential floods.

The residents of two villages of katcha areas in Thatta district near Jhirik, Rajoo Nizamani and Tando Hafiz Shah, have been warned to evacuate toward safer places in view of the expected super flood to pass from here in this week. The population of Rajoo Nizamani is about 10000, while that of Tando Hafiz Shah is about 8000. Both villages are located within the katcha area within the embankments of Indus River.

Transport has been sent to these villages for evacuation. Rangers have been assigned to help evacuation of people in cooperation with local representatives. So far 77000 people have been evacuated from katcha areas, out of them about 40000 are housed in relief camps.

Most vulnerable points are, Soorjani and Monarki near Sujawal. Munawar Baudar said the army jawans have already been deployed at these two vulnerable points for round the clock vigilance so as to avert any eventuality.

Indus River has 27 creeks from where water will flow down toward Arabian Sea.

Super flood is expected to pass through downstream Kotri from this district in next 4 days. He said that all measure had been taken for strengthening of embankments so as to avert any eventuality.

The flood currents engulfed in their lap more localities in Punjab, causing to cut off ground links leading to Dera Ghazi Khan and Alipur. The cut off ground links left thousands of people marooned in flooded areas with the local transporters charging exorbitant fares from the commuters. The flood tide approached Loharwala after it ravaged Khangarh, deluging at least three areas near Canal Sultan.

The ground links of tribal areas in Dera Ghazi Khan are cut off still today on 21st day with at least one million people stranded here in these areas. Meantime, two towns were submerged under floodwater as a protective embankment breached near Fazilpur in Rajanpur.

District Rahim Yar Khan is witnessing a high degree flood. The bund that caved in at Bhong, could not be plugged as yet.