17,000 displaced as 624 villages stranded in floodwater

Flood has hit the entire area of southern Punjab, which caused death of at least twelve people. Besides, 624 villages have been stranded and floodwater has displaced more than 17,000 people due to spate in two major rivers Indus and Chenab. Hundreds of cattle heads were swept away by the gushing floodwater, reports reaching here said.
Railway track near Chachran Sharif, Rahimyarkhan was also swept away when the floodwater reached there and turned the situation difficult for the locals, reports added.
The flood control authority on Monday has declared that 200 villages in Jhang, 105 in Muzaffargarh, 81 in Taunsa Sharif, 31 in Dera Ghazi Khan and 10 villages in Leiah were inundated in the floodwater in which hundreds of people had been displaced.
Khadim Hussain (9), Abdul Hameed (7), Hurmat Mai (13) and Kora (12) were drowned on Sunday.
Besides, about 12 people, including a minor girl Rafia drowned in the floodwater in Rajanpur, Ghotki, Sahiwal, Chiniot, Leiah and Kot Mithan Sharif while more than three dozen people were injured due to caving in of their dwellings.
Hundreds of cattle heads were either killed or swept away by gushing waters during the last three days.
The Punjab government has declared full rehabilitation of the flood-hit communities and ordered effective measures to avoid heavy losses in future, as flood has affected many areas.
The government would fully compensate the losses as per package announced by the Punjab Chief Minister and in this regard a detailed survey of the whole riverine belt would be conducted, the official sources said.
FCA further said a protective embankment would be constructed around Jhangi Morr village so that its safety could be ensured.
Police conducted raids to apprehend those responsible for breach in the protection embankment at Leiah because Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi ordered immediate inquiries and arrest of those responsible of the breach in the embankment.
The irrigation authorities have intensified the patrolling at all sensitive areas while army personnel have also been called out for help in the area.
The Indus water was reported to be eroding the embankments in the Panjnad area near Bhong band and according to the official sources, some 200 feet had already been slashed by the river at Bhong.
Hundreds of community people deputed by federal minister Raees Muneer Ahmed were busy in dumping stones at the affected site to strengthen it for preventing a breech.