HYDERABAD, Aug 18: A medium flood is expected to pass through the Kotri barrage between August 20 and 21. Discharges of all off-taking canals of the barrage have been closed in view of incessant rains in the catchments area of the Indus river.

The chief engineer of the Kotri barrage, Mr Manzoor Sheikh, said that there were no releases of water in off-taking canals to ensure safety of embankments and the Indus was having identical discharge at up and downstream discharge.

“A medium flood would pass through the barrage between August 20 and 21 because we consider above 200,000 discharge as medium flood”, he said.

He said that at present a peak flow was passing at the Dadu-Moro bridge and reports indicated that there was no surge in the river level.

He said that it would be checked tomorrow morning whether the level was steady or showing any rise.

“If the water recedes by Saturday it will indicate the peak flow has passed”, said Mr Shaikh.

According to the control room of barrage, an identical discharge was recorded at the river 250,908 cusec because of nil release to off-taking canals.

Kotri barrage chief executive briefed Hyderabad GOC Maj-Gen Abdul Aziz Tariq in detail regarding the flood situation.

He responded to various queries of the GOC.

He told the GOC how river embankments and vulnerable points were being checked round the clock.

An ISPR press release said that army assets of the Hyderabad garrison had been put in place to assist the civil administration.

It said that army troops had been asked to remain stand-by to evacuate people from flooded areas.

According to the press release, the GOC, who was on assessment and coordination visit to the Kotri barrage, had assured full support of army troops of his garrison to the civil administration.

He said that the garrison headquarters was monitoring the flood situation from day one and was ready to handle any eventuality.

Maj-Gen Aziz said that flood monitoring teams had been formed and they were standing shoulder to shoulder with irrigation authorities to examine the flood situation in Hyderabad region.

At the Kotri barrage, the GOC was briefed by irrigation authorities.

Chief Engineer Manzoor Shaikh said: “Kotri Barrage was commissioned in 1955 and is 2,984 feet long. It is designed to pass a maximum flood of 875,000 cusecs.

It consists of 44 gates sluiceways, each of 60-foot wide.

The maximum flood discharge is 981,000 cusec and the department had carried out sufficient dumping of stone well ahead”.

He said the department was constantly monitoring the flood situation round the clock and had divided the area in circles to facilitate the work.

He said the civil administration had also set up flood warning centres, flood liaison and emergency centre to maintain close liaison with military.

Speaking to journalists, he said that it was a team work of army and irrigation officials to monitor flood situation.

He said that the Pak Army was at disposal of the government and the situation was under control.

He said that a monitoring room was also set up in the garrison in this regard.

Hyderabad DCO Mohammad Hussain Syed, Jamshoro DCO Dr Khawar Jamil and military officials were present on the occasion.

Our Dadu correspondent adds: A high Indus flow was passing Dadu and Jamshoro districts.

The flood water was developing pressure at the second arm of J-spur of the Dadu-Moro bridge.

The flood water inundated about 50 more villages of Dadu and Jamshoro districts.

These villages are: Nabi Bux Jatoi, Ibrahim Khushik, Korejo, Kharal, Shar, Khair Mohammad, Rehmatullah, Baloch, Mubarak Jatoi, Najam Khan, Noto Kharal, Chhutto Mastoi and Dur Mohammad Lund.

The kutcho area including KT Jatoi, KT Kheero, KT Khushik, Khundah forest, Adri forests, Rajri forests, Amri Khanoth forests were flooded.

Some 50 per cent villagers have migrated from the kutcho area in Radhan, Sona Bindi, Adri, Jhallo, Moundar, Duredero, Manjhand and Aminiani.

The chief engineer of Sukkur barrage (left bank), Agha Aijaz and superintending engineer Rohri circle, Ghulam Hussain Leghari have camped at J-spur of the Dadu-Moro bridge.

Briefing reporters, Agha Aijaz said that a high flow of flood water was passing through the Dadu-Moro bridge and 450,000 cusec flow was crossing from Dadu and Jamshoro districts.

He said that the water level was rising at the Dadu-Moro bridge.

He said that the water level was recorded at 126.80 RL on early in the morning and 126.90 RL in evening of Friday at the Dadu-Moro bridge.

He said that the pressure was developing at Bhanoth, Mad and J-spur of the Indus River but situation was under control.

The executive engineer of the Dadu southern division, Shafqat Wadhoo, visited LS bund at Siyal village, Pat Sharif and Talti.

Our Naushahro Feroze correspondent adds: About 513,000 cusecs water was passing through the Indus river near Bakhri embankment Kandiaro on Friday.

DCO Nazar Mohammad Kalhoro and DO (revenue) Sikandar Khushik said that the water was passing smoothly and apparently there was no danger to Naushahro Feroze district.