Emergency declared to cope up with flood threat

Punjab irrigation department has declared emergency and taken precautionary steps such as closing of some canals to cope up with the possible flood like situation in the watercourses during the current heavy rains in the province, it was learnt on Wednesday.
The flood Commission of Pakistan has also directed all the four provincial authorities to take precautionary measures. The commission is also expected to convene a meeting in the coming week in federal capital. The relevant authorities in Punjab irrigation department were busy making emergency plans about how to cope up with the rain related emergency situation. The department has also issued high alerts and strict vigilance on the banks is in full swing on various major canals of the province. Rains and full force gale winds resulted in death of more than 200 people in Karachi, the country's economic hub and provincial capital. The rainstorm destroyed hundreds of homes and caused widespread power outages two day ago. Heavy winds uprooted trees and damaged power pylons and blew down roofs and walls, crushing or electrocuting scores of persons. The killer rains continue for last more than 50 hours.
Sindh government has also set up an emergency control room in the office of the chief secretary to collect the information and provide help to those who are affected by the rain or floods.
The provincial irrigation department as a pre-emptive step has closed various canals of the Taunsa, Punjnad, Trimmu barrage to protect the people and crops. Similarly Sindh government has closed the KB Feeder, Akram Wah, New Phuleli, Pinyari canal, Wadho wah and Fassadi Wah of Kotri barrage due to scare of any flood situation in these channels, official pointed out. The authorities are releasing 36,000 cusecs of water down stream Kotri Barrage after rains started on Saturday.
Similarly Ghotki feeder, Desert pat feeder and Sindh Begari canal of Gudu barrage has also been closed and water withdrawals reduced from routine releases to secure these canals from any kind of breaches, said official. Rohri canal and Nara canal however has been closed. Irrigation officials have claimed that the banks position of LBOD, Mirpurkhas main drain and other drains were normal and under control.
On other hand, Balochistan government has reduced water withdrawals from their share in the canals of Sindh province, irrigation department official confirmed. Balochistan irrigation department on Monday has informed their Punjab counterparts about the less withdrawals of water because they think that heavy rain could create flood like situation in these canals.