Flash flood inundates 192 villages in Sindh

SUKKUR (August 07 2010): The flash flood has entered Sindh province and initially 192 villages were inundated due to breach in embankment at Qadirpur and entry of flood waters in District Nawabshah. Pakistan Army and Pakistan Rangers have started rescue work. Pakistan Army rescued 27,000 people from inundated areas of Kashmore, Ghotki and Sukkur, while Pakistan Navy rescued 12,000 people from these areas and shifted them to safer places.Evacuation of dangerous places was paced up due to rise in water level. The water level at Guddu Barrage reached 962,768 cusecs, against analysts' expectations that the level would drop to 850,000 cusecs due to four major breaches at Taunsa Barrage in Punjab. Now, it is expected that water level at Guddu Barrage would increase to a million cusecs due to heavy rains.Total area from Guddo Barrage to Sukkur Barrage has been inundated due to breach at Qadirpur embankment and the flood waters entered katcha areas near the Indus River, resulting in submergence in water. Massive migration has been observed in districts Ghotki, Kashmore and Sukkur. People have started moving to their relatives' houses, relief camps and neighbouring higher areas to escape disaster. Total 21 embankments from Guddu Barrage and Sukkur, particularly Kandhkot-Kashmore Bund, Ghauspur Bund, Tori Baund, Bachal Bhio Bund, Kot Shahu, Ali Wan bund and Daim Malik Bund were declared dangerous.Khair Muhammad Kalwar, Director, Operation, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), told Business Recorder that the water level at Guddu Barrage was recorded 962,768 cusecs, and 730, 853 cusecs at Sukkur Barrage, while the Kotri Barrage was flowing at 156,865 cusecs. He said there is no chance of increase in flood water at Guddu Barrage; "but next 24 hours could be crucial".He said that due to breach in embankment at Qadirpur point 192 villages in the katcha area of Kashmore, Ghotki and Sukkur had been inundated by flood waters. "From Guddu Barrage to Sukkur Barrage there is a distance of 160 miles, out of which 24 miles katch area and agricultural land inundated due to breach at Qadipur embankment," he said.He said there are 21 vulnerable points (embankments) from Guddu Barrage to Sukkur Barrage, which could be breached when high pressure (962,768 cusecs) would reached Sukkur Barrage. He said the meteorological analysts have forecast heavy rains in Sukkur, Kashmore and Ghotki, which may worsen the situation.Briefing the journalists, District Co-ordination Officer (DCO) Ghotki said the breach at Qadirpur embankment had been refilled and the water was passing from the affected embankment properly. "There is no threat of breaching of embankments in the Ghotki districts".Federal Minister for Water and Power Pervaiz Ashraf visited the Sukkur Barrage. Including Kot Addu Power Plant, all other power plants were declared safe, he said. Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower, Khursheed Shah, and Sindh Minister for Irrigation Saifullah Dharejo visited Sukkur Barrage. They condemned the allegation that the provincial government was trying to breach embankments to save Sukkur Barrage from damage.