After wreaking destruction in South Punjab, River Chenab is expected to unleash its wrath in Sindh as the incoming water flow will likely increase levels at Guddu and Sukkar barrages. To avoid large-scale devastation, the provincial administration has mobilised relief and rescue teams in case of an emergency.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh Ghulam Haider Jamali has instructed police officials to ensure that people are shifted to safe places in view of expected flooding in the province and urged them to remain in contact with the concerned departments for safety measures.
“A Central Police Office is being set up for monitoring possible floods, which will coordinate with district wireless control rooms and ensure all possible support to the related government departments,” Jamali said.
Moreover, police will remain on high alert and have been advised by the government to patrol embankments for peoples' protection.
The Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) Lahore has intimated that according to latest hydrological conditions and breaching of embankments between Qadirabad and Punjnad on River Chenab, the risk of 'high to very high flood levels' at Guddu and Sukkur has decreased. Therefore, River Indus at Guddu and Sukkur may attain medium to high flood levels ranging between 400,000 cusecs to 500,000 cusecs from September 16 to 18.
According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), at least 209 deaths were reported in Punjab alone during floods which have affected more than 2.2 million of population.
An estimated 32,243 houses were also damaged, whereas 2,853 villages were massively hit by the floods, NDMA reported.
Earlier, FFD had forecast high to very high floods in the Indus River at Guddu after the peak in Chenab would fall downstream Panjnad.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Army continued its rescue efforts in Uch Sharif, Muzaffargarh and Multan of South Punjab.
Since the start of relief efforts, more than 41,115 persons have been rescued and 128 tonne rations have been distributed, while 4,286 patients received treatment in 18 medical camps established by the army, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said.
