News
Flood hits Jhang; water inundates dozens of villages
* Thousands still trapped on rooftops in several districts as residents criticise authorities for not doing enough
JHANG/CHINIOT: Floodwaters entered Jhang on Tuesday as raging waters of Chenab and Jhelum rivers continued to wreak havoc.
Thousands of villages in Chiniot, Jhang, Khushab, Kabirwala, Old Chichawatni and Sargodha have been submerged in the floodwaters which have made their way into Bhawana city. Hundreds of villages have been swallowed up by water as dozens of safety barriers ruptured. Around 400,000 cusecs floodwater reached River Chenab at Head Trimmu Tuesday morning and the water level is rising constantly. Flood peak of 810,000 cusecs was likely to reach the barrage Tuesday night and was expected to engulf Sargodha, Khushab, Jhang and Toba Tek Sing.
In a bid to save the barrage, decision has been made to break the Athara Hazari barrier and the nearby villages have been evacuated. The high flood is to stay at Head Trimmu till September 12. DCO Jhang Raja Khurram Shahzad said that the city is safe and no orders have been issued for its evacuation. However, he said people have been asked to remain alert. He said different TV channels were making speculations and asked the people to remain calm.
He asked the people not to visit the dyke which is about two kilometres from Jhang city. Vast stretches of land in Chiniot, Kot Momin, Kot Amir Shah, Sargodha Road, Bhawana, Hafizabad, Sukheki, Bhalwal, Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal and Mandi Bahauddin are all under flood water. River Ravi saw high tides after heavy downpour and many settlements in Mari Pattan came under water. High floods in River Sutlej engulfed Ganda Singh and dozens of villages nearby. Thousands of people remain trapped on rooftops across the flooded areas.
Flood has washed away many villages along with livestock and harvest, causing irrevocable losses to the residents. Emergency has been declared and rescue operation is being carried out. Military helicopters and boats are being used to rescue and transfer people to safe havens. Floods have ravaged 700 villages throughout Punjab, according to Flood Department.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk