BAHAWALPUR/KHANEWAL/TOBA TEK SINGH
As floodwater entered Rahim Yar Khan, 24 Mozas were hit by the flood and crops of sugarcane, cotton and clove on thousands of acres were flooded and damaged completely while hundreds of residents of these areas were shifted to safe locations before flood.
The protective embankment was also swept away. In Rukanpur, Indus River has a high flood and the water flow of more than 500,000 cusecs is passing through Indus River due to which several populated areas were swept away completely while hundreds of people are still stranded in the low-lying areas who are trying by themselves to migrate to safer locations. Hundreds of flood victims have fallen victim to diseases and for them a medical relief camp has been established at Rukanpur.
Chenab River water at the location of Panjnad Headworks destroyed several areas of Uch Sharif, dozens of areas have been flooded by the water. It has destroyed homes, crops and other things while crops on hundreds of acres were flooded. In land communication with more than 100 areas have been disconnected, Rescue Operation is being conducted by Pak Army and civil administration while a large number of people are still stranded on their rooftops waiting for help to arrive.
Commissioner Bahawalpur Division Captain (R) Javed Akbar said that flood victims who are living in the tents should be provided with every possible facility and in this matter no negligence will be tolerated. He expressed these thoughts while talking to flood victims at a Flood relief camp established in Basti Tayyab Balochan Tehsil Liaquatpur. He met with the victims and inquired about their problems. He ensured that flood victims will be provided with three-time meal a day and potable water.
He directed the doctors present in Health Department’s camp to visit the people in their areas to provide them with medical assistance and pay special attention towards their treatment. On demand of flood victims, he directed the assistant commissioner of Liaquatpur to provide fodder for the cattle of flood victims and also conduct the vaccination.
Likewise, flood in Chenab and Ravi rivers also wreaked havoc in two tehsil’s of Khanewal district. About 76 villages of Kabirwala and Mian Channu tehsils were affected due to floods. A total of 25 villages of Mian Channu tehsil and 18 villages of Kabirwala tehsil were fully affected by Ravi and Chenab river while the remaining 33 villages were partially damaged. A total of 35,068 acres of 48 villages were damaged by floodwater while 27,949 acres were cultivated. The district is cotton crop belt of south Punjab, and cotton, wheat, rice and sugarcane are main crops of the area. It means 27,949 acres mainly cotton and rice crops have been damaged.
According to estimates, crops loss is millions of rupees. From 48 villages of Kabirwala tehsil, 21,924 people were displaced and evacuated by district administration, rescue 1122 and other sources. Only 3,940 people are living in the camps. The district administration has established 4 camps and 14 tent valleys in 8 flood centres at Gagra Qalandar Jahanian, Bela Shah Din, Khokhra Muhabat Tragar, Mumdal, Muhammad Pur Nashaib, Fazil Shah, Bati/Haveli Mubarik Shahand Khud Sargana. These 18 villages of Kabirwala tehsil are fully affected by floodwater of Chenab and Ravi River including 1-Ahmad Abad Kohna, Ahmad Abad Nau, Khairdin, Khair Din, Humiyana Sani, Khair Din Humyan Amda Muzzafargarh, Kot Kathia, Mohri Jhindeer, Lalayra, Sada Hiraj, Sahib Lugrah, Chiragh Wali, Faqeer Sial, Chak Naurang Shah Amda Jhang, Jehana Mirali, Mansoor Mirali, Gul Pur Pinjiri and Ath Mudhi, Noor Mirali.
The affected people told the newsman that their houses, crops, assets, valuables and animals are badly affected due to this natural disaster. Now it should be the prime responsibility of the provincial government as well district administration to make arrangement on top priority basis for the rehabilitation and construction work in the area, they demanded. They said that honest and technical officials should be deputed for the assessment of destruction in the area. If assessment is not made carefully and honestly, it will be impossible for the government to compensate the displaced and affected people on merit, they said.
Diseases can affect the people of affected areas, they feared.
Meanwhile, Shorkot PAF Air Commodore Shafqat Mushtaq said that PAF helicopters and staff were helping flood-hit people of the villages of Jhang district in Ahmadpur Sial, Shorkot and Garh Maharaja since flood came from Head Trimmu. While addressing a meeting of Shorkot Cantonment people on Wednesday, he urged philanthropists to come forward to help the flood affectees and to donate required goods through PAF camps set up in Rafiqui Chowk and Railway Chowk. Cantonment Board Executive Officer Haider Ali Sial was also present in the meeting.