News
Dykes dynamited to save Multan; Balochistan, Sindh on high alert
* Water level rising at Guddu and Sukkur barrages * Ghotki, Kashmore, Khairpur, Shikarpur and Larkana’s rural population directed to evacuate
MULTAN: The Head Mohammadwala protective dyke along River Chenab was blown up on Friday to divert the floodwater from the historic city of Multan.
The raging waters posed a threat to Multan, as the peak high flood in River Chenab crossed through Trimu Headworks in Jhang on Friday. Multan region has become the focus of relief and rescue operations and over 1,100 boats and 16 helicopters were being used to evacuate people from Jhang, Multan and Muzaffargarh districts. The authorities had earlier developed a breach at Multan-Muzaffargarh highway to soften the flood stream. The water gushing from the breach submerged hundreds of villages in the area.
The breach, however, failed to subside the ferocity of the raging floodwater. The officials blew up Head Mohammadwala protective dyke along River Chenab to save the city of Multan. In Jhang District the authorities were considering making another breach at Athara Hazari embankment to handle a peak of 500,000 to 600,000 cusecs flow in Chenab approaching Trimu within 24 hours. To save Jhang city and outskirts, the authorities on Wednesday blew up Athara Hazari protective dyke at the right side of Chenab, diverting 120,000 cusecs to Athara Hazari town and adjoining areas.
Officials said Chenab, downstream Trimu, could pose a serious threat to Multan because of chances of breaches at Muhammadwala and Sher Shah bridges. The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) has forecast high to very high flood with a flow of 600,000 to 700,000 cusecs in Indus River at Guddu on September 15 and 16. The swelling river is likely to pose the same threat to Sukkur on September 16 and 17, the flood forecasting body added.
The Multan city is safe from the flood now and so is the railways metal bridge passing by the Chenab bridge, said Xen Irrigation (Operations) and Incharge flood control cell Irrigation Department, Chaudhry Muhammad Zahid. Water level at Head Muhammadwala was down by six inches following the breach at Shershah. It was the third breach in Multan on Friday to tame the raging floods and avert threat to Multan city. The first two breaches were made in Head Muhammad Wala road on the boundary of Multan and Muzaffargarh districts Friday morning.
The Sindh government has put irrigation and other authorities on high alert and evacuated people from Kacho (riverbed) areas in Sukkur, Ghotki and Khairpur districts. The officials said the impact of flood wave that was expected Friday night has started reaching Multan and hoped that it would start receding sometime after reaching its peak level. Chaudhry Zahid said the testing times for the administration were not yet over as the water level is expected to reach its peak in Multan on Saturday (today). The administration has availed all the options on the left side of the river, Zahid said, adding that Doaba Flood Bund on the right side of the river in district Muzaffargarh might become an option for breach to tame the flood in emergency situation.
Chaudhry Zahid said 393.5 feet was the critical level for Shershah Bund and it was breached when water level touched 392.4 feet at Shershah Bund. Meanwhile, water level touched 413.05 feet at Akbar Bund, the main safety structure that stands between Chenab River and Multan city. Earlier, flood wave had picked up pace as it started moving downstream through riverine areas of Multan and Muzaffargarh, and officials had been pondering over breaches amid reports of a higher flood wave expected to pass through Multan Friday night.
In view of the flood threat the jail authorities have decided to transfer 120 inmates of Jaffarabad prison in Balochistan to Machh jail. Balochistan has imposed a flood emergency in the province in view of possible flash floods in the eastern districts bordering Sindh. Red alerts have been issued in Jaffarabad, Naseerabad, Sohbatpur and Dera Bugti districts of the province.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk