District Administrator Hyderabad, Aftab Ahmed Khatri has said that Hyderabad district is now out of flood danger as its protective bunds are strong enough to withstand peak flow of high and even super floods. However, he said, some katcha areas located at Hussainabad and Latifabad have submerged which, according to him, was unavoidable in these high floods.
Talking to journalists at a routine press briefing held at Circuit House Hyderabad, Khatri said the provincial irrigation department SIDA, Pak Army, Rangers, Sindh Police and other organisations are very much vigilant and conducting round-the-clock patrolling on the embankments and monitoring the situation.
He said some katcha areas of Gulistan-e-Sarmast and Kohisar have submerged but efforts are being made to retain the water at a safer distance. He informed that that Hussainabad Park and katchi abadi, along-with Railway Bridge, have also submerged.
He further said that about 3,000 people residing in 25 villages of katcha areas have all been evacuated. The administrator said more than 15,000 IDPs have arrived in Hyderabad from upper Sindh, who have now been accommodated in different relief camps. 23 relief camps have so far been made functional, while the number of planned relief camps is more than 60, he added.
We are receiving good response from the individual philanthropists and organisations with regard to food and medicines for the affectees and now, we have extra stock of these goods and food. Speaking on the occasion, DPO Hyderabad Muneer Shaikh said a contingency security and rescue plan has been prepared by district police to meet any eventuality. About 2,000 police personnel have been deputed to act on this contingency plan, he added.
Elaborating, he said the plan has been divided into three parts. Part A, he said, has been set for launching rescue operation in katcha areas and assisting the irrigation department in its flood-fighting measures, Part B aims at maintaining law & order at the relief camps and participating in relief operations, as well as keeping an eye at the criminals. Part C of the plan aims to protect the lives and properties in case of any untoward incident. He added that the situation is under control, but still, we are red alert and will remain so till floodwaters completely stop.
Responding to a question, the DPO said no incident of private land grabbing by the IDPs has so far been reported in Hyderabad, adding that in any such case, people would guide the affectees to reach the relief camps. Police could be informed about any such situation at police help line 15, he added.