MIRPURKHAS: Hundreds of flood victims blocked Khipro-Sindhri road on Monday in protest against diverting floodwaters coming from Sanghar to Kangal Lake in Sindhri taluka by illegally digging up a drain across the road, and inefficiency of irrigation department and district administration to drain out stagnant floodwaters.

The protesters led by Allah Bux Marri, Rasool Bux and Usman Marri burnt tyres on the road, bringing traffic to a halt on both sides of the road.

They complained to media persons that influential landlords had purposely cut across the main road to divert floodwaters of Sanghar district to the lake, which had led to inundation of dozens of villages.

They said the district administration and irrigation department were not making sincere efforts to drain out stagnant floodwaters from Sindhri taluka as there was no drain to carry floodwater from the taluka.

They said that recent heavy rainfall had affected thousands of people in Sindhri taluka, who had to shift to main roads and safe places to save their lives. The recent rise in the lake level after cut across the road had posed serious threat to the lives of hundreds of villagers, they said.

They said that district administration had not provided relief goods to flood victims since heavy rainfall while social organisations were supplying food and other relief goods on self help basis to the victims, who were forced to live under open sky in their makeshift huts along roads.

They warned that if the district administration did not drain out floodwaters immediately and stop floodwater being released to Sindhri taluka then they would stage a protest demonstration in front of deputy commissioner’s office in Mirpurkhas.

They demanded higher authorities take immediate notice of the manmade flooding in Sindhri taluka, ensure draining out of stagnant floodwaters and provide relief goods to victims.

Meanwhile, the commuters and drivers in the vehicles disputed with protesters and exchanged hot words. Later, police arrived and persuaded the protesters to disperse peacefully and lift blockade after five hours.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2022