Floodwater finally falling in the Arabian Sea

THATTA: After devastating an area spread over 2,700 square kilometres and displacing 578,732 people from Sujawal area, floodwaters gushing out of Kot Almo breach since August 10, are now finally falling in the Arabian Sea through two major creeks.

According to the District Officer Revenue and focal person District Disaster Management Committee, Hadi Bux Kalhoro, water was falling into the ocean through Kalka Chani and Purano Dhoro Creeks respectively, located along settlement of Chach Jahan Khan” in UC Kothi and in south west of coastal town of Jati.

“I am standing just here and flood waters are streaming down” said Mr. Kalhoro on his cell phone, while giving details of his eyewitness account. He said the width of the flood water is about half a kilometre at an estimated average height of 12 ft.

Mr Kalhoro said that the raging water had inundated Jati-Baranabad- Khorwah road. Water is about to reach Khorwah, a town of about 40,000 souls in Golarchi taluka of Badin district, and the administration was giving various cuts in the said road to stem the mounting pressure of water in the area.

He said the coastal town Chuhar Jamali was still safe, however, the water has inundated the entire landscape from coastal town of Ladyoon to Kaiz Nali- a tributary of fresh water.

The water has submerged Kaang Tarro and Johu Tarr Lake. Many villages, including Mubarak Borio, Dolho Borio, Ghulam Hussain Borio, Gul Mohammad Mallah, Gul Thaheem, Ayub Thaheem, Ramzan Anghai, Haji Hassan Borio and 27 other villages had been inundated in this area.

When contacted, DCO Thatta Manzoor Ali Shaikh said that two teams had been dispatched to coastal taluka of Jati via Ahmed Rajo and Golarchi to help expedite the evacuation process.

He said that the main Thatta-Badin Highway via Sujawal, has partly been restored and traffic has started to move uptill Sujawal, adding that still the highway was under water from Nodo Baran to Budho Talpur. He said that within the next four to six days this portion of highway would also be cleared of water and communication from Karachi to Badin via Thatta and Sujawal would be restored. The general population would be able to reach Badin from Karachi easily, he added.

Meanwhile, the level of floodwater which had inundated the major town of Sujawal, has receded up to three feet and restoration of road access to the sub-division headquarter town has resulted in gradual return of some of the citizens to their abodes.

In another development electricity has been restored to Mirpur Bathoro and Daro towns. Power to these two towns had been cut since the Kot Almo breach. These towns remained safe during the devastating floods. Life also returned there with the restoration of power.

As per an official update, total number of internally displaced people (IDPs) from different parts of Thatta district, including kutcha area stood at 850,111 out of whom 201,299 are living in tents, 533,045 had gone to other places or to their relatives while 115,167 are living under open sky.

BADIN: The flood water may hit main Karo Ghunghro Drain, which is the defence line of Golarchi, Khor Wah and towns of Badin district near the border of Thatta.

Dewan Sugar Mill is at a distance of eight kilometres from Karo Ghunghro Drain.

DCO Badin Agha Wasif said that although major portion of flood water was heading towards the sea and the authorities of Badin and Thatta districts were busy in making a cut at Jati to Barn road to divert flood water towards sea.

He said that there was no threat to the Badin district adding that the administration was fully vigilant.

He brushed aside reports that Dewan city had been submerged. He, however, said that if the floodwater became rough, it would first stretch towards Rari forest and then create problems for people of Badin.

Meanwhile, landlords and owners of sugar and other mills have collected an amount of Rs10 million and were spending it to strengthen the banks of Karo Ghunghro Drain to save Golarchi and nearby towns and villages.

The work is being carried out under the supervision of Hasnain Mirza, son of Sindh home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza.