Indus rising at Guddu, Sukkur posing Flood threats in Pakistan
By Atif Hussain - Pakistan Times Staff Reporter

LAHORE: River Indus at Guddu and Sukkur Barrages and River Kabul at Nowshera are in high flood with rising tendency, said the Flood Forecasting Division of Pakistan Meteorological Department here Monday.

Experts believe that rising tendency in the River Indus at Sukkur and Kotri Barrages would continue even during next 48 hours.

River Indus at Kotri will enter in high flood during next 24 hours and it is likely to cause widespread damage in the areas lying on both sides of the river.

Experts believe that devastation on both sides of River Indus–right from Sukkur to Kotri would be far greater than the damage caused by flood in the River Chenab.

“After reaching the highest flood level, the water will maintain its surface for 24 hours or even more time period which means greater damage to the areas lying on both sides of River Indus–from Sukkur to Kotri”, said Chief Meteorologist Shoukat Ali Awan. He said that water level at Marala was maintained for only six hours but great damage was caused to the public property.

Threats by Inundation

“Inundation for more time will increase the damage manifold on both sides of the River Indus”, he said adding that water pressure was already causing collapse of mud dykes in Sindh. He said that water flow has slowed down beyond Sukkur as there is hardly any slope up to Kotri.

The inundation would affect Sukkur, Ghotki, Nawabshah, Dogri, Kakar, Badra, Naushero, Dadu, Moro, Daulatpur, Sehwan Sharif, Hala, Mitari, Hyderabad, Skrund and other localities on both sides of River Indus from Sukkur to Kotri Barrages.

“Discharge at Kotri Barrage has already increased from 106,000 to 115,000 cusec during last six hours and it will continue to rise during next 36 hours”, Shaukat Ali Awan said adding that volume of water was far greater at Kotri as river bed over there was three time wider. He said that settlements in the vicinity of the riverbed following Kotri Barrage would be washed away by the floodwater.

Trimu and Panjnad

Water discharge at Trimu and Panjnad was also increasing, which was threatening Mithan Kot and nearby localities. He said that water discharge at Trimu has also increased from 162,000 to 171,000 cusecs.

River Indus at Tarbela, Kalabagh, Chashma and Taunsa is in low flood where water discharge was 247,700, 262,300, 281,100 and 243,500 cusecs respectively. The River Indus is recording receding tendency at Tarbela, Kalabagh and Chashma while it is flowing steadily at Taunsa.

Jhelum at Mangla

River Jhelum at Mangla, River Chenab at Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad are in low flood level while River Ravi at Panjnad, Jassar, Shahdra and Balloki and River Sutlej at Sidhnai, Gandasinghwala, Bakerke, Sulemanki and Islam are below low flood level.

River Chenab is witnessing receding tendency at Marala, Khanki and Qadirabad while it is flowing steadily at Chiniot Bridge.

River Ravi is steady at Jassar while River Sutlej is witnessing falling tendency at Gandasinghwala.

Experts however opined that the flood receding trend in the Punjab province would continue due to the absence of any significant rainfall in the catchment areas of major rivers. No significant rainfall was expected in the upper and lower catchment areas of all the major rivers during the next 24 hours, which would be helpful in early return of the river flow toward normalcy.

Meteorological Radar Network has reported scattered light to moderate rain over the upper catchment areas of the River Chenab and Jhelum. Isolated light to moderate rain was reported from Lahore and Rawalpindi divisions. The experts have also predicted mainly dry weather with isolated light rain at few places during the next 24 hours.

Relief Committee Moot

Meanwhile, a meeting of Chief Ministers’ Flood Relief Committee was held here at Committee Room of Board of Revenue to review prevailing situation and flood arrangements in the province.

The Punjab Minister for revenue Gul Hameed Khan Rokhri chaired the meeting, which was also attended by the Punjab Flood Relief Commissioner Safdar Javed Syed and other concerned officials. The meeting was informed about the prevailing flood situation and arrangement made by the administration.

Irrigation department officials were directed to further strengthen the protective spurs and dykes and make the monitoring and repair work foolproof.

The meeting was informed that water level in River Ravi was continuously decreasing and there was no further threat to Lahore and low-lying areas on both sides of the river.

The City District Government Health and Livestock Departments have started vaccination campaign for saving people and cattle heads from epidemics during floods and rainy season.

CDG Health department has established camps at Ichra, Burki and Thokar Niaz Baig for mass vaccination against diarrhea, cholera and typhoid.

CDG Livestock department has established camps at Thokar Niaz Baig, Shahdra, Burki, Manga, Babu Sabu and Gulshan Ravi for the vaccination of animals against epidemics.●