The flood water has started receding at Sukkur Barrage and gradually rising at Kotri Barrage, putting the Irrigation and SIDA engineers as high alert to avoid any big loss of live and property. The flood flow at Sukkur Barrage recorded Thursday at 4.00 pm reduced up to 10,97,990 cusecs as compared to 11,30,995 cusecs at upstream and 10,72,080 as compared to 11,08,795 cusecs at downstream recorded on Wednesday at 04.00 pm.
This process reduced up to 33,005 cusecs in upstream and 36,715 cusecs in downstream within last 24 hours. Similarly the water level at Kotri Barrage was recorded as 2,08,001 cusecs in upstream and 1,96,856 cusecs in downstream on Thursday at 04.00 pm as compared to 2,01,091 cusecs in upstream and 1,92,994 cusecs in downstream on Wednesday at 04.00 pm.
Thus it increased 6,910 cusecs in upstream and 3,862 cusecs in downstream during last 24 hours. The Director Sida Ahsan Leghari talking with this scribe said that the super water flow would arrive at Kotri Barrage most probably on August 15 or onwards. He said that his organisation was fully prepared to cope with this challenge.
He said that 40 kilometres long left embankment passing from Hyderabad District was being attended by his organisation where 5 most vulnerable points have been declared. He said that flood fighting preparations were at full swing and added that 12 excavators, 5 dozers, 12 dumpers, 35 tractor trolleys, 4 pick-ups, 2 big Shehzore and other vehicles were being used for strengthening of all 5 vulnerable points and patrolling of the embankments.
He said that the labour force (Wangar) from landlords, political parties has been arrived on the bunds. He said that 500 people from MNA Syed Amir Ali Shah Jamote, 300 from Provincial Minister Zahid Ali Bhurgri, 200 from Provincial Minister Syed Ali Nawaz Shah Rizvi and a large number of MQM workers were among them. He said that stone dumping, stone stocking, earth work to raise the height and fill the gaps of embankments, clearing of bushes, installation of 4 to 8 landhies on each mile of embankments, provision of generators were being made, in addition to constant and extensive patrolling of the bunds. To another question, Ahsan Leghari said that the big flood flow, which was heading toward Kotri Barrage to arrive on August 15or onwards.
He said that Pak Army was fully supporting to the flood fighting agencies. He said that the high officials of Pak Army on Thursday visited at Kotri Barrage and briefed about flood fighting measures from officers of Irrigation and Sida. The oversee committee, constituted by Chief Minister Sindh, was constantly in touch with the administration concerned and was supervising ongoing works. He informed that this oversee committee would meet at most vulnerable point Ghalyan Bund to discuss and decide flood fighting strategy.
Meanwhile, the Administrator Hyderabad Aftab Ahmed Khatri while addressing a press conference at Circuit House Hyderabad on Thursday advised the people of Hyderabad not to pay heed toward any rumour. He said that he was optimistic that flood flow to pass from Hyderabad without causing any damage. Similarly, the D G Health Hyderabad while talking to this correspondence said that 275 fixed and 76 mobile medical camps were providing medical treatment to the flood victims in 15 districts in the province.
Besides, the Sindh Minister for Fisheries Zahid Ali Bhurgri, Sindh Minister for Special Education Syed Ali Nawaz Shah Rizvi along with journalists visited different parts of left bank of River Indus, whereas, the Sindh Minister Rural Development Zubair Ahmed Khan along with elected representatives of MQM visited different parts of embankments and directed the officers concerned to expedite their pace of work.