Daily Times

At least 40 big and small villages were inundated by floodwater, on Sunday, in the wake of a 200 feet wide breach in Rohrari Canal near village Yousif Dahri in district Naushehroferoze.

The breach occurred into Rohrari Canal, some 50 kilometres away from Moro town, after which the flood water moved to more villages of District Nausheheroferoze.

Irrigation officials, local people and Rangers officials were trying to close the breach with flood-fighting material and heavy machines. Sukkur Barrage Chief Engineer Irshad Ali Memon is supervising the closure of breach at Rohrari Canal while efforts are being taken to stop water moving to Manahro City. Nausheheroferoze Deputy Commissioner Rao Bilal Shahid and Assistant Commissioner Moro Syed Mudasir Shah visited the breach site at Rohrari canal.

Inundated villages included Jangal dahri, Rasool Bux Dahri, Mureed Dahri, Tufail Punjabi, Sarif Birohi, Gujar Panjabi, Aziz Gujjar, Adam Lashari, Mureed Dahri, Jawan Dahri, Bachal dahri, Yousif Dahri, Sheer Mohammad Dahri, qaim Bhatti, Imdad lashari. Around 3000 acres of agriculture land, comprising of cotton, sugarcane and vegetables crops were inundated due to flood water. Sindh CM’s Advisor on Irrigation, Ishfaq Ahmed Memon, told Daily Times that the breach had occurred at 5 am and water was closed into Rohrari canal at 6 am. He said that when water would be reduced completely, the breach would be closed and it was the only way to close the breach.

The advisor added that the cause of the breach was not known till yet and according to irrigation experts, the breach would be closed within 24 hours. Speaking to Daily Times, Sukkur Barrage Chief Engineer Irshad Ahmed Memon said that as soon as irrigation officials had informed about the breach into Rohrari canal, water was closed from the head of Rohrari canal. He maintained that heavy machinery and flood-fighting material was being provided to close the breach. He said that an inquiry had been launched to know the cause of breach at Rohrari Canal.

Shaheed Benazirabad Commissioner Mohsin Ali Shah claimed that breach was between 80 and 120 feet wide. He said that the stranded people and villagers were being shifted to safe places through boats.