Breach in flood Bund inundates 50 villages in Punjab
Pakistan Times Staff Report

DERA GHAZI KHAN: A 50-foot breach in a flood protective Bund in Layyah district caused by the turbulent Indus inundated 50 villages and put Layyah and adjourning areas at maximum risk from floods.

Moreover, the victims of 50 villages in Tehsil Taunsa Sharif had been shifted to safer places on self-help basis while about 60 villages of Dera Tehsil had been declared dangerous and the evacuation work was in progress.

The District Irrigation department’s officials said only 300 people could be shifted to safer places ill Tuesday evening in Dera Tehsil. The officials feared high flood during the next 24 hours.

The discharge rose to some 5,22,322 cusecs upstream Taunsa barrage on Tuesday afternoon beating the 15 years record. The flood inundated dozens of villages along the riverine areas of both Layyah and Dera Ghazi Khan districts on both sides.

District Layyah Flood Relief Officer Ghulam Rasool said that the teams of Irrigation department and the district administration were making efforts to plug this breach and now only one protection bund is protecting Layyah city from high flood and people along the effected bund were being evacuated.

All the canals derived from Taunsa barrage were closed on emergency basis where the upstream discharge was recorded 5,22,322 cusecs, downstream discharge at Kalabagh was 3,93,962 cusecs, at Chashma barrage was 4,46,216 cusecs, inflow at Tarbela was 2,86,400 cusecs, outflow 2,60,100 cusecs with its level 1,517.66 ft.

Agencies add: Layyah DCO Nazir Ahmad Chaudhry said a breach was caused early Tuesday in the North-F protective Bund from a spot at its foot where a ‘Moga’ was plugged earlier. It caused an around 200-foot wide breach, he added.

EDO (Revenue) and flood officer Zafar Abbas Lali said the water level from upstream to downstream was decreasing but water already reached here so far still causing troubles. It is expected that water would subside sometime by Wednesday, Zafar Abbas added.

Water Level

Meanwhile, the water level in some rivers started receding in the NWFP, as the river Kabul at Warsak remained in medium flood where discharge of water was 418,238 cusecs at 7pm on Tuesday while the river Indus at Attock was in low flood with discharge of 362,900 cusecs by the same time.

The Swat River is in very high flood at Monda, the Kabul River in high flood at Nowshera. The river Jhelum is in low flood at Mangla while other major rivers, including the Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej, are flowing below low-flood level.

The river Indus at Tarbela, the river Kurram at Thall, the river Kurram at Ghari Headworks and the river Gambila at Gambila bridge were normal with discharge of 198,700 cusecs, 3,065 cusecs, 850 cusecs and 366 cusecs, respectively at 7pm. While the river Indus at Chashma, the river Kabul at Warsak, the river Swat at Amandara Headworks, the river Kaitu at Spinwam, inflow and outflow at Chashma remained in medium flood.

The river Indus is expected to attain low flood level at Chashma and Tarbela due to continued decrease of water level in the river. According to Indus River System Authority (Irsa), the water inflows recorded at Tarbela on Tuesday was 286,400 cusecs against Monday’s inflows of 330,500. Similarly, the water outflows recorded at Tarbela on Tuesday was 260,100 cusecs which is also less than Mondays’ outflows of 278,600 cusecs.

Rains

Reports of rain have been received from different cities, including Sialkot 39 mm, Barkhan 25 mm, Malamjabba 16 mm, Palandri 15 mm, Parachinar 13 mm, Muzaffarabad 11mm, Muzaffagarh 8 mm, Shakargarh 6mm, Kakul, Balakot, Zafarwal and Daggar 4 mm each, Saidusharif, Kamra, Mangla and Islamabad 3 mm each, Sargodha, Murree, Bahawalpur, Rahwali and Skardu 1 mm each.

According to a report of the Flood Relief department, the Mitchni bridge, which was damaged due to rising tides the other day was closed for all kind of vehicular traffic. Similarly, Bela Mominaan, Jalabela, Sardar Tapoo, Islamabad Koroona, Dalazak Kandar and some village of Daudzai area were still inundated by the gushing flood water and relief items like good grains and medicines are being provided to the flood-hit people.

In Charsadda District, Zangal Koroona, Awan Abad and Jhangi Koroon areas submerged in flood water, however, dwellers of these areas have been evacuated and shifted to safer places.

In Nowshera district, the people stranded in flood areas like Nowshera kalan, Momin Garhi, Pir Sabaq and Amangarh were shifted to safer places in boats. Whereas flood situation in Chitral district was under control where the river was flowing normal.

Floods Recede

An earlier report said that water in two major rivers in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province has started to recede after a fortnight of flooding, officials in the area say.

They said; water levels in the swollen Kabul and Swat rivers are down by 30%. But the situation in southern Dera Ismail Khan district remains grave.

On Tuesday rescue teams evacuated more than 350 people to safer places in Dera Ismail Khan district. Officials say people should not return home even if flood waters are receding.

We had alerted people about expected floods much earlier. They co-operated and moved to safer places

They are concerned that the start of the monsoon season may again lead to major rivers overflowing. The river Indus is still flowing at a high level.

Figures to Damage

There are no accurate figures relating to damage, but according to rough estimates, nearly 4,000 acres of agricultural land are under water affecting more than 10,000 people in 86 villages.

More rains in next 2-3 days

Amid a large number of villages, still inundated by rain-cum-river flood waters in various areas of Pakistan, the Met pundits on Tuesday forecast more monsoon rains in next two to three days in the country.

Director General Met Office Dr Qamaruz Zaman Chaudhry told 'Pakistan Times' that a weather-system called 'monsoon depression', presently existing in central India, is likely to move in the West/Northwest direction in the next two to three days and could cause rains in eastern parts of Pakistan.

"Under the influence of this weather system, widespread rains with isolated heavy falls are expected in Punjab, Eastern Sindh and Azad Kashmir within next two to three days," he added.

He said the Met Department was closely monitoring the weather system and hoped that the system would change its direction.

Precautionary Measures

We have informed and alerted all the concerned departments to take precautionary measures, he added About the overall prediction for whole monsoon season, Dr Qamar said, normal monsoon was expected during the season. Better rainfall is expected in August as compared to July, he said.

"Normal rains were expected during monsoon, but heavy rain at any time can cause floody situation in the country," he added.

Dr.Qamar said, Met Department had already given prediction of flood due to heavy snow melting in northern areas.

Now, snow-melting has stopped due to fall of temperatures in northern areas, he said adding, the situation in rivers would become normal within next two-three days.

To a question about long-term forecast and regional climate change, Dr.Qamar said, according to the outlook of international experts, rainfall belt of the region will move towards north and the southern areas would become more drier.

Met department is also working on analyzing the impacts of the current weather situation on agriculture and water resources.

Sukkur directs for Evacuation

Yet another report says that Sukkur district administration has advised about 650 families settled along the Indus river banks to evacuate in view of the flood situation in the river.

District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sukkur Shafiq Ahmed Khoso has issued four evacuation notices earlier to the people residing along the river banks but they didn’t comply the warning.

The district administration now warning them by loud speakers announcements to move from the threatened place.

They were asked to migrate from the area under flood threat. The authorities have warned of legal consequences if residents of the area failed to comply the orders.●