In the ongoing devastation on a massive scale, the flood waters entered Ghazi Ghat Town and the adjoining areas, forcing over 0.3 million populace to evacuate after the breach in the protection spur and bund meant for the safety of PakArab Mid-Country Oil Refinery at Qasba Gujrat.
Muzaffargarh DCO Farasat Iqbal said that hundreds of families in the vast area are stranded and are yet to be evacuated. The rescue operation in the newly-hit areas was not effective for the evacuation of 0.3 million populace with the total strength of 60 workers and two boats. Shabbir Hussain, a Wapda employee, said," I am waiting for transport since the announcement was made from the mosques but there was no truck, bus, van, etc available."
The administration of Muzaffargarh issued warning for city's evacuation, as water in city's Ring Canal surged to a dangerous level on Monday. The first train brought the affectees of Muzaffargarh to Multan. Earlier today in Muzaffargarh, the announcements were made from mosques urging the residents to evacuate the area. People in large numbers comprising women, children and the elderly, came out on the roads with the necessary goods and set out towards safe locations, including Multan.A large portion of these affectees consists of those who arrived here from flood-bogged down southern Punjab areas including Layyah, Gujrat and Kot Addu. But the devastation followed in their footsteps forcing them to leave their area once again. Banks are closed in the city. Petrol and diesel have run short giving rise to people's hardships. People are shifting their families to safer places on motorcycles. Some motorcyclists were unable to reach their destination because all the petrol pumps are lying closed due to suspension of petroleum supply.
On the other hand, Mepco had shut the power supply in flood hit areas to save the people from electrocution. The road contact of Dera Ghazi Khan was suspended with Multan, Muzaffargarh and the rest of Punjab after the national highway was swept away at various locations near Ghazi Ghat Town. The post of Highway Patrolling Police at Ghazi Ghat was also inundated by the sweeping flash floods while it entered two wheat procurement centres of Rind Adda and Ghazi Ghat where huge stock of wheat has been completely damaged, and now water was heading towards Chowk Karm Dad Qureshi, Baseera, Shah Jamal and other populated areas from where people have been evacuated by the administration.
Hundreds of families in the vast area are stranded, yet to be evacuated. The breach in the main riverbed, near Taunsa Barrage, on its eastern side could not be bridged yet even after a lapse of eight days. It damaged houses, offices, railway tracks and the canal system in Tehsil Kot Addu. The authorities are just paying visits to the area and practical steps to secure the population are not visible anywhere in the urban, rural and riverine belt. The displaced families, with no shelter, are staying in the open as the Indus flood waters are everywhere, leaving nothing behind.
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