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Saturday May 04, 2024

Flood in rivers Chenab, Kabul, Swat

Many villages inundated as Nullah Dek embankment washes away; situation may get worse as more rains likely

By our correspondents
July 13, 2015
SIALKOT: The heavy downpour in different areas of the country on Sunday raised the water level in different rivers and dams and alerts were issued for areas adjacent to Nullahs and rivers. Also, a flood situation in the rivers Chenab, Kabul and Swat was witnessed.
The Nullah Leh in Rawalpindi was also flowing in low-level flood.More than 50 villages were inundated when floodwaters eroded the protective dyke of Nullah Dek in Pasrur Tehsil of Punjab’s Sialkot District.
The flood in Nullah Dek, triggered by heavy rains in different cities of Punjab, inundated more than 50 villages where thousands of people left their homes in search of safer places.The raging floodwaters also inundated thousands of acres of agriculture land in the area.
The breach in the dyke exposed tall claims made by the administration, which claimed that Rs120 million had been spent on the embankment.On Saturday, heavy rain was reported from some cities in Punjab, including Rawalpindi.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain, thundershowers at isolated places in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore divisions, Islamabad, Malakand, Hazara, Kalat divisions, upper Fata, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan during the next 24 hours.
DCO Multan, Zahid Saleem Gondal, said that there could be flood as the water level in River Chenab was rising continuously.Giving a briefing to journalists, he said that they had repaired and improved different embankments with the cooperation of Pakistan Army and the canal department, adding that they had also introduced temporary ways for the flow of floodwater.
The DCO said that they would issue warning before flood threat to sensitise public to leave their places urgently.He said that the flood could hit 120 villages and nearly 0.2 million population in district Multan, adding that they had completed all arrangements for evacuation of stranded people.
Meanwhile, several villages had been flooded after overflowing of the water in the River Chenab whereas people in Wazirabad had also been directed to move to safety.The danger surrounded the populace of 60,000 people in Layyah as well.
Rain reduced intensity of heatwave but it turned out to be a huge trouble for those living in low-lying areas as those living in areas surrounding the rivers were facing serious threat of floods.
Several villages in Jhang had been flooded with water while crops spread across hundreds of acres of land had also been destroyed.The water level in Nullah Palkhu as well as River Chenab was also rising rapidly posing a serious threat to dozens of villages.
The administration directed the locals to move to the safer places. There’s a low intensity flood in River Sindh near Chashma point in Layyah as well. The water level is rising continuously and at least eight villages have been flooded while the population of at least 60,000 people is facing serious danger because of erosions.
The water level at Guddu Barrage is also rising continuously causing flood at several villages. People are moving to the places of safety on self-help basis.The increase in water flow has been forecast in coming a few days.