Heavy rains leave a trail of destruction in Sindh

93 dead, over 2,800 houses damaged in province during three spells of rains, Murad tells PM Shehbaz

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah Thursday informed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that the province received 369 percent more rain, leaving 93 people, including 47 children, dead and damaging 2,807 houses besides destroying several roads.

He was briefing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on rain-related incidents during a meeting held via a video link. “The situation calls for the support of the federal government to compensate for the loss of lives, infrastructure, crops and houses and the agriculture bank may be directed to defer recovery of its loans it has advanced to growers in Sindh,” the chief minister said. Shah said that Karachi received 556mm of rain during three spells.

“As many as 35 sewerage lines of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board were affected at different locations across the city and three bridges in District West and Malir have been affected badly,” he said and added major roads of Karachi such as EBM Causeway, Crossing Causeway and others have been severely damaged.

He added that various major streets in urban centres like Karachi, Hyderabad, Badin, Sukkur, Thatta, Sujawal and Dadu have been partially damaged. The CM Sindh told the prime minister that around 15,547 houses partially and 2,807 fully have been damaged and 89,213 acres of standing crop have been submerged or washed away. Syed Murad Ali Shah giving details of the relief efforts taken by his government said that 62 Truck Mounted heavy Dewatering Pumps of PDMA were stationed at various districts for immediate dewatering of rainwater.

He added that 30 out of 62 pumps were stationed in Karachi, in addition to the already deployed dewatering pumps by various departments.

Syed Murad Ali Shah said that as of now, 6280 Tents, 17,675 Mosquito Nets, 20 boats with OBM, 3,280 Jerry cans, and other relief items, including folding beds, pillows, bed sheets, life jackets have been provided to the rain-affected families.

He said that 300 ration bags have been provided to District Jamshoro. In addition, cooked food and drinkable water were also being provided to the rain-affected people wherever needed.

Discussing anticipated issues, Syed Murad Ali Shah said that Balochistan was likely to receive more rains for another week, which would further aggravate the existing situation of Hub Dam and adjoining areas of Karachi. He added that the excessive rains at the Khirthar range might result in a further increase of in-flow of water in Kamber Shahdadkot, Dadu and Jamshoro Districts.

Giving details of the flood situation at Guddu, the CM said that The River Indus at Guddu is currently flowing at 283.4 (thousands of Cusecs) which was at a low flood level. “However, in next 24 hours the level is expected to raise from 290 to 340 (thousands of Cusecs),” he said and added further in-flow of water beyond 400 (thousands of cusecs) would require the evacuation of the population residing in Katcha areas.

The chief minister discussing a long-term solution suggested raising and strengthening of flood protection dyke adjoining Balochistan in order to minimize the risk of flash flooding in Sindh in future. He also requested the prime minister to support the strengthening and capacity enhancement of the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD).

Syed Murad Ali Shah said that the early completion of the Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) was also requested by the prime minister for the up-gradation of stormwater drainage in Karachi. The chief minister said that a huge amount of money was required to carry out all these works, therefore the funds recovered from Bahria Town may be provided to the Sindh government for the construction of nullas and other important uplift works.

The prime minister assured the chief minister that he would help him in handing over the money recovered from Bahria Town.

Hanif Samoon is a senior journalist based at Thar/Badin and contributes reports from different districts of Sindh to Minute Mirror. He has won a number of awards, including the Agahi Award twice for his stories on health and child rights. He tweets @HanifSamoon1 and can be reached through email at [email protected]