Kotri likely to withstand exceptionally high flood

Chief Secretary Sindh, Fazul-ur-Rehman has said that they are preparing to face the flood of 0.9 million cusecs against the expected flow of 0.8 million cusec, adding that technical experts have assured that the coming floods would pass from Kotri Barrage safely and there would be no danger to Qasimabad and Latifabad embankments.
However, he said, the katcha areas of the river can be submerged completely and evacuation of the people from these areas was in progress. He expressed these views while addressing a press briefing at the flood monitoring camp at Hyderabad Bypass Bridge, on Tuesday.
The Chief Secretary said four embankments, constructed by people to cultivate land in katcha areas, have been destroyed by local administration to remove the obstacles in water flow, its spread over katcha areas and minimise pressure toward its next destination.
He said that as many as 200 trucks of stones have been dumped, 30,000 gunny bags are being placed and work was being carried out to re-strengthen vulnerable points of flood protective bunds alongside Qasimabad and Latifabad talukas. Responding to a question about flood disaster in upper Sindh, Fazul-ur-Rehman said four districts including Sukkur, Ghotki, Kandhkot and Shikarpur were worst affected.
To another question, he said that whatever magnitude of flood is, we are considering it as very serious and are ready to face it. First priority of the government was to protect lives of the people, he said and asked those residing inside the katcha areas to move to safer places. He said that 2,000 Pak Army personnel were participating in flood fighting, relief and rescue measures.
The minister also visited Kotri Barrage where he received briefing about the current situation of the flood. Chief Engineer Kotri Barrage, Manzoor Shaikh briefed the Chief Secretary and informed him that Kotri Barrage was strong enough to sustain the incoming flood flow. He informed that his administration was very much vigilant at 26 vulnerable points, 16 on left and 10 on the right bank of Indus river. He further said re-strengthening work at Surjani embankment was in full swing.
Earlier, the Chief Secretary, along-with District Administrator Hyderabad Aftab Ahmed Khatri, PD SIDA Ahsna Laghair, RPO Hyderabad Fayyaz Leghari, and DIG Hyderabad visited the left bank of Indus River from Kohisar to Jamshoro and inspected the ongoing work of re-strengthening of embankments. He directed the officers to expedite the flood fighting measures and get it completed before the arrival of super flow at Kotri Barrage.