SUKKUR / HYDERABAD The Indus 'super flood' has turned all estimates upside down with the pressure of water surge continuously increasing at Guddu and Sukkur barrages following heavy rains.
About 1.148 million cusecs of water was passing through Guddu on Sunday. The flow at Sukkur upstream was recorded at 1.115 million cusecs and downstream at 1.106 million cusecs.
Irrigation authorities cut a portion of the Ghouspur dyke which came under immense pressure after the Tori embankment breached on Saturday. The cut in the dyke is now threatening to inundate Karampur, Ghouspur and other towns and villages. Water is entering the Begari Sindh canal which may also affect Shikarpur and Jacobabad.
According to sources, PML-Q workers led by legislator Mir Abid Sundrani cut a hole in the Makhwani dyke, reducing threat to some areas.
A large portion of a wall of the historic temple Sadh Bello collapsed in the afternoon and water entered its premises. However, Sukkur Hindu Panchayat's chief Eshwar Lal said that knee-deep water in the temple posed no threat to the main structure. He said a Rangers boat had rescued the caretaker and three employees of the temple.
Bhong town, Garhi Khair Mohammad, Dao Wala and some other villages were flooded after the Bhong bund developed a breach on Saturday night.
According to sources, the KK bund developed cracks which were immediately filled by troops and local people.
The Indus Highway has been inundated near Ghouspur and Naparkot.
20 SAVED
The lives of 20 members of a family were saved by Rangers personnel after their boat capsized near Garhi Mahar village in the kutcha area of Pano Akil. They were taken to Pano Akil town.
Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim is reported to have asked his disciples to reach Matiari to protect river embankments. He is expected to be in Matiari on Monday.
Kotri Barrage Chief Engineer Manzoor Sheikh, meanwhile, said the situation was causing concern because of the unexpected water surge.
The barrage was designed to discharge 875,000 cusecs. It weathered 981,000 cusecs in 1956, 811,000 cusecs in 1973, 824,000 cusecs in 1994 and 799,000 cusecs in 1995.
Twenty-six points downstream -- 16 on the left and 10 on the right bank-- have been declared vulnerable. The Sujawal-Monarki embankment faces the most severe threat. It was eroded during the last flood and has been reconstructed.
The peak flood is likely to pass through Kotri on Aug 12-13.
River flows downstream Kotri area linked with the tide in the sea and the peak flow may sustain for three to nine days. The pressure of the Indus is likely to be equal on both the banks even after it scatters in the kutcha area.
Because of the uncertain situation, a large number of people have camped on the embankments and are reluctant to go to relief camps which they say lack amenities.
According to an ISPR official, troops airlifted about 50 people in upper Sindh. Troops have been deployed in areas from Guddu barrage to Thatta. They are currently focusing on rescue efforts at the BS feeder in Kashmore, Qadirpur in Ghotki, Ali Wahan near Rohri and Aqil Agani in Larkana district.
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