HYDERABAD The floodwater has started falling at Sukkur Barrage and rising at Kotri Barrage where 208,000 cusecs water was recorded at 4 pm on Thursday.
The fluvial flux at upstream Sukkur dropped to 1,097,990 cusecs level on Thursday as compared to 1,130,995 cusecs on Wednesday while the downstream flow also reduced to 1,072,080 cusecs against 1,108,795 cusecs a day earlier back.
Similarly, the water level at Kotri Barrage was recorded at 208,001 cusces at upstream and 196,856 cusecs at downstream on Thursday showing 6,910 cusecs and 3862 cusecs upturn respectively in 24 hours.
Experts are of the view that unexpected gradual build-up of water level at Kotri was caused by the three large bridges downstream Sukkur.
However, Director Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) Ahsan Laghari told APP that the flood was likely to attain its peak not later than August 15, 2010, at Kotri Barrage.
He maintained that his department - which is also responsible for the 40 kilometres long embankments on the left bank of Indus along Hyderabad was fully prepared to surmount the challenge.
Although, he added that 5 points along the 40-kms stretch of the protective bunds shielding the district from the roaring waters of Indus had been declared vulnerable.
But, he said flood combating preparations were in full swing and besides the irrigation staff, Pakistan Army, Sindh Rangers, workers of different political parties and volunteers were working relentlessly for the fortification of the embankments.
He informed that the political workers and volunteers were mostly performing the tasks of stone dumping and stocking, earthwork and gap filling, clearing bushes, manning the “landhis” situated at each mile along the bund as part of patrolling and monitoring of the embankments.
The flood monitoring committee constituted by Sindh Chief Minister has been supervising the flood combating measures and relief and rescue works which are likely to ensue.
Many of the weak and vulnerable points on the bunds indicated by members of the committee to irrigation officials have been plugged.
The committee would also hold a meeting at Ghalyan Bund, which has been declared as vulnerable, to discuss the strategy about efficiently handling the situation.
On the other hand, the D.G. Health Hyderabad informed that 275 fixed and 76 mobile medical camps were providing medical treatment to the flood victims in 15 districts of the province. He said that since July 31, 2010, a total 106465 patients had been treated.
Earlier, in the day Sindh Minister for Fisheries Zahid Ali Bhurgri, Sindh Minister for Special Education Syed Ali Nawaz Shah Rizvi along with journalists of the print and electronic media visited different parts of the left bank of River Indus, whereas, Sindh Minister for Rural Development Zubair Ahmed Khan along with elected representatives of MQM visited various parts of embankments and directed the officers concerned to expedite the pace of strengthening work.
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