SUKKUR: Following the flood rise in 25 villages of Noushehro Feroz district, more than 20 villages have been submerged in the Ghotki parts and hundreds of houses as well as thousands acres of crops washed away on Wednesday, Daily Times has learnt.
Sources said that at least 20 villages have been inundated due to flood water on Wednesday and the contact of villagers has been suspended due to flood rise in villages and crops were also destroyed.
Sources said that the rise in water levels at Guddu was recorded at 296000 cusecs and downstream was 261198 cusecs, while at Sukkur Barrage was 238855 cusecs and the downstream recorded as 184065 cusecs. Similarly, Kotri upstream was recorded at 71648 cusecs and down stream was recorded at 36903 cusecs a day before.
Earlier, Pakistan people’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah have directed their MPAs and MNAs as well officials concerned for strict vigilance of Indus River embankments during monsoon in Sindh. Sindh Irrigation Secretary Syed Zaheer Hyder Shah on Wednesday visited Sukkur, Noushehro Feroz and Ghotki district after 60 feet wide breach developed at a dyke of Nusrat Canal and inundation of hundreds of houses and crops were also destroyed. The irrigation secretary had also briefed the Sindh chief minister about the progress of his work at Nusrat Loop Bund, Aqil-Agani Bund, Qadirpur Loope Bund, Qadirpur Shank Bund, Ulra Jagir and Faridabad bunds at Khairpur, Mud Bund at different locations of Sindh province including Larkana, Sukkur, Noushehro Feroz, Sujawal and Munarki and Katiar bunds and others.
Sources said that the authorities had declared six dykes of Indus River which are vulnerable, these were from Guddu to Kashmore and Shikarpur and the work started on the sensitive portions of these dykes is still incomplete.
It is pertinent to mention here that hundreds of billions of rupees had been utilised since floods of 2010 in Sindh, and recently the Sindh chief minister issued Rs 200 million to Sindh Irrigation Department for further strengthening of work on River Indus dykes.
Sources said that there is no proper monitoring of vulnerable dykes of River Indus by the irrigation and district administration adding that all the focus is on the funds utilisation and creating demands.
According to the Met Office, rains and thunder storm are expected in lower parts of Sindh and at isolated places in upper Sindh today (Thursday) and tomorrow.