983 lives lost so far

Devastating floods accompanied by torrential rains have so far claimed 983 lives and injured 1,089 persons, Business Recorder learnt Friday morning. The death toll stood at 974 on Thursday morning with the injuries tally standing at 1,073. As on August 06, according to official figures released by the Ministry of Water and Power, the number of floods affected persons has increased to 2.9 million from 2.1 million that was recorded on Thursday.
The government has established 178 relief camps in different areas for these victims. The flood report said, so far 2,174 villages have been destroyed and 10,048 cattle have perished during this calamity. About 1,402,914 acres of cultivation land has been affected across the country because of the flash floods, it also said.
In Punjab more than 1,379 villages have been affected and 32,635 houses have been destroyed, the report further said. According to the report, the number of affected villages in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa stands at 468, in Balochistan 280 and in Gilgat-Baltistan 47.
According to an official statement, the river Indus is in 'Exceptionally High Flood' situation with the water level rising at Guddu, and is in 'Very High Flood' situation with the water level dropping at the Taunsa barrage. It is also in 'High Flood' at Chashma & Sukkur, and in 'Medium Flood' with the water level dropping at Kalabagh. It is in 'Low Flood' situation with rising water level at Tarbela. River Kabul is in 'High Flood' with water level dropping at Nowshera and in 'Medium Flood' with rising water level at Warsak. River Chenab is also in 'Medium Flood' with the water level rising at Trimmu and in 'Low Flood' with water level rising at the Marala-Khanki reach, whereas River Jhelum is experiencing a 'Low Flood' situation with the water level rising at the Mangla-Rasul reach.
Actual rivers flows and the reservoirs elevations indicates that the Tarbela and Mangla Dams are at elevations of 1530.50 feet and 1206.00 feet respectively, which are 19.50 feet and 4.00 feet below their respective Maximum Conservation Levels. The local authorities have already been directed to remain vigilant in case of further filling of both the reservoirs. Today's (Friday) combined live storage positions of Tarbela, Mangla & Chashma is 10.517 MAF as compared to last year's 10.437 MAF.
According to the Flood Forecast Division (FFD) Lahore, a weak low pressure over western Rajasthan (India) and adjoining areas has merged into a Seasonal Low, and the South-eastern monsoon current, which is penetrating into the sub-mountainous areas of Punjab and Kashmir, is up to 5,000 feet. Thursday's well marked monsoon Low over north-western Bay of Bengal has moved west-north-westwards and today lies over west Orissa (India).
As predicted by the FFD Lahore, widespread thunderstorm/rain with scattered heavy falls are expected over north-eastern Punjab and Kashmir besides upper catchments of rivers Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej including Gujranwala Division during the next 24 hours. Scattered thunderstorm/rain is also expected over the upper catchment of river Indus, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, north-eastern Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan including Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Lahore, D. G. Khan and Bahawalpur Divisions during the same period.
Significant rainfalls, reported during the past 24 hours include: Shinkiari - 121mm, Sialkot (Airport) - 104 mm, Marala - 72 mm, Khanpur - 49 mm, Phulra - 37 mm, Balakot - 36 mm, Kallar - 33 mm, Kakul - 32 mm, Domel - 28 mm, Saidusharif and Kund - 27 mm each, Rahim Yar Khan - 25 mm, Marala (D/S) - 23 mm, Kamra - 22 mm, Palku - 16 mm, Islamabad (Saidpur) - 16 mm, Muzaffarabad and Talhatta - 15 mm each, Garhi Dopatta - 13 mm, Jacobabad and Sehrkakota - 11 mm each.
The river Indus at Guddu is likely to touch the exceptionally high flood levels of 950,000 to 1,000,000 cusecs during mid night on August 06 or wee hours of August 07. Under this scenario, the inundation and flooding in the low-lying areas of Districts Ghotki and Sukkur is expected. The river Indus at Sukkur is also likely to touch the exceptionally high flood levels of 900,000 to 1,000,000 cusecs during the next 24 hours, due to which, inundation and flooding of the low-lying areas of Districts Sukkur, Larkana, Nawabshah, Dadu, Hyderabad and Nausheroferoze is expected. The flood peak of 600,000 to 700,000 (Exceptionally High Flood Levels) is likely to pass through Kotri on August 10 or 11. Provincial Irrigation Department Sindh and the district administrations have been directed to take precautionary measures in this regard.