3ft under water: Indus Highway Karachi-Larkana section closed

Overflowing water collapses bridge near Sehwan, disconnects Dadu, Larkana from both sides

The National Highways Authority (NHA) on Wednesday closed the Karachi-Larkana Indus Highway section due to flooding at various locations, especially in Jamshoro and Dadu districts.

The NHA functionaries said the road was under floodwater near Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Sehwan toll plaza. The water level on the location is around three feet, they added. The National Highway is also affected near Nowshero, Kandiaro, Qazi Ahmed and Jahanian, the motorway police added. The travel duration from Sukkur to Karachi has gone up from 6 to 15 hours amid flooding and rainfall, they added.

Over 5,000 km of roads have been damaged in the country due to devastating floods and heavy rainfall, the NDMA reported. Meanwhile, the Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) developed a wide breach near Bhan Saeedabad due to which water was fast rushing towards towns and other localities. DC Jamshoro Captain (r) Fariduddinn Mustafa had already issued a red alert for the residents of the town and some union councils of the taluka early on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the overflowing water from Manchhar Lake partially collapsed a bridge near Sehwan city and consequently disconnected Dadu and Larkana districts from both sides of the Indus Highway. According to National Highways & Motorway Police (NHMP), all kinds of traffic going to Dadu was blocked due to floodwater on Indus Highway near Sehwan. According to authorities, Sehwan Airport and Sindh Chief Minister’s native village Bajara were also submerged. The Indus Highway from Khairpur Nathan Shah had already been submerged for over a week.

According to the district administration, water is continuing to flow from Manchhar Lake embankment RD-54 and 52 and has entered the limits of more than seven union councils. Union Councils Bobak, Wuhar, Channa, Jafarabad, Talti and three others were completely submerged, displacing thousands of villagers. DC Jamshoro Captain retired Farididdin Mustafa on Wednesday issued warning for the residents of 250,000 residents of Bhan Saeedabad town and three other UCs as water was fast flowing towards those areas.

Dadu Deputy Commissioner Syed Murtaza Ali Shah estimates that over 1.2 million people have been affected by the rains and floods since July 7 in the district. He told journalists on Wednesday that 201 relief camps had been set up in the district, where flood-affected people were being provided meals twice a day. National Disaster and Management Authority (NDMA) revealed on Wednesday that at least 18 more people lost their lives in the last 24 hours due to monsoon spell and floods in the country, with Sindh among the worst affected.