Immediate supply of food items should be initiated and drinking water would be provided to thousands of rain-affected families in district Shahdadkot-Qambar, worst affected district by the recent heavy rains/flood. Sindh Relief Department has recommended this in a report which was forwarded to Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah for proper action.
Copy of this report obtained by Business Recorder states that: Dewatering pumps should be allocated to district authorities for dewatering with strict directions for immediate dewatering from the areas. Mosquito spray should be done to avoid risk of dengue and other dangerous diseases. Immediate action should be taken on stagnant water bodies which may cause deliberate increase in diseases and government should provide mosquito nets to the rain-affected families.
Damages and Needs Assessment (DNA) should be done for appropriate use of data among government line departments and humanitarian organisations. Livestock vaccination should immediately be examined under the supervision of highly qualified veterinary doctors. All line departments including health should also be on standby to respond any epidemic, breach or else.
It is reminded that recent heavy spell of monsoon rains started from September 9, 2012, broke 25 years' record in six districts of the province. These districts include Khairpur Mir's, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Sukkur, Jacobabad, and Kashmore-Kandhkot and Shahdadkot-Qambar. During the visit of Shahdadkot-Qambar, area people told Haleem Adil Shaikh and his department's team that they are helpless as the district administration is not providing assistance to them.... they are leading very miserable life in the absence of basic necessities, the report stated.
Rain-affected people said they have no clean drinking water and due to the stagnating water our children are exposed to the epidemics. "They (people) complained that the work of de-watering is very slow and in some areas look completely dormant," it stated. Livestock is also suffering due to no drinking water. So many cattle have died of drinking dirty water, but livestock and other departments are indifferent and careless about the woes of people, the report stated further.
During the visit of Taluka Qubo Saeed Khan, Advisor to Chief Minister for Relief also visited FP Bund of Saifullah Khan Canal situated on Sindh- Balochistan Border, simultaneously visited Chukhhi and Rabi Pul. People said Khuzdar Road has been submerged by the flash flood originating from mountains of Balochistan. Resultantly the populace of these areas has been surrounded by the inundation situation.
The Advisor got briefing from Secretary Irrigation Sindh, about conditions of FP Bund and visited the affected areas from Zero Point to the Hamal Jheel of Mirpur UC of Taluka Wareh. The relief department's team visited the bridge of RD-122 of Keerthar Canal which developed cracks leading to flooding in the Osta Muhammad area of Balochistan. The water gates of this bridge were old and gushing water from the cracks inundated areas of Osta Muhammad. If this floodwater had not been brought to a halt by efficient arrangements, there was threat of inundation in other areas bordering both Balochistan and Sindh.