Second anniversary of 2010 flood: Sindh government fails to pay compensation to heirs of 446 victims

Despite passage of two years, Sindh government could not compensate heirs of 446 people who were killed/washed away during the flash floods of 2010, Business Recorder learnt here on Friday. In July 2010, super floods entered various parts of the province and destroyed a large number of villages and towns displacing millions of families in about 20 districts.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and other hi-ups had announced that family member of those who died/washed away, would be compensated but these announcements proved empty and not a single family could be compensated by the provincial government, sources said. "Interestingly, NGOs and other social institutions are remembering the flood victims on completion of two years but rehabilitation, relief, PDMA and other departments have not organised any event in memory of millions of flood victims," a high-level official of Sindh government said.
He told BR on condition of anonymity that Sindh experienced severe flooding in 2010. Around 7.8 million people were affected by severest floods ever in living memory; many of them are still in the recovery phase. He said 9 people were killed or washed away in district Kashmore-Kandhkot, 15 in Shikarpur district and 6 in Sukkur district. Five people were killed or washed away in Ghotki district, 70 in Jacobabad district, 7 in Larkana district and 16 in Kamber-Shahdadkot district, he added.
The official said 32 people died or washed away in Khairpur Mir's district, 11 in district Naushehroferoze, 46 in Dadu district, 6 in Benazirabad district and 10 in Hyderabad district. Only on person died or washed away in Matiari district, 4 in Tando Mohammad Khan, 6 in Thatta district and 10 in Sanghar district. A resident of village Jhando Khoso, Taulka Khairpur Nathan Shah, told Business Recorder that his father was washed away during floods. He had moved a case in Deputy Commissioner Dadu office for compensation announced by the provincial government but nothing has been done in this regard despite passage of two years.
He said there are more than 30 families only in Taluka Khairpur Nathan Shah, whose members had been died or washed away during floods but they are still deprived of compensation by the administration. Advisor to Chief Minister for Relief Department Haleem Adil Shaikh claimed that provincial government had released a huge amount to concerned DCs of every flood affected district in the head of compensation of families whose members had been died or washes away during floods. Shaikh said if any heir has not received compensation amount, he can contact the concerned DC.