THATTA, Aug 28: Chaos is the second name of Thatta city these days. It might become a sinking town too if measures are not taken to ward off its inundation on war footings.

People rendered homeless by a breach in Molchand Surjani (MS) levee at Kot Almo a couple of days ago have settled wherever they found space vacant. Their tents dotted the historic city.

Thatta is known for its sweets and beverages today. It has a glorious past because it had been the capital of Sindh, a semi-autonomous state in the last days of Mughal era.

Famous Badshahi Masjid, build by Emperor Shah Jahan, and the necropolis of Makli, housing the graves of Arghun and Tarkhan invading rulers of Sindh with awe-inspiring Islamic calligraphy and articulate engraving of geometrical patterns, speak of the grandeur of the city's past.

Thatta city had a population of 700,000 even when Karachi – then called Kolachi – had population of a few thousands. Thatta district is also known for its horticulture and agriculture.

But nowadays homeless people could be seen running from pillar to post to get two square meals amid deplorable conditions. Food is their priority because the local administration has been inattentive towards their needs and their claims appear to be just hollow.

Countless flood survivors are living on roadsides, in parks, government buildings, cricket grounds and even in Makli's historic graveyard which is otherwise a protected heritage site.

IDPs move from one place to the other in search of food and help for proper accommodation but they find none to guide them. They even criticise media and journalists when were approached for comments on how they reached Thatta and how they feel about that.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah is on the record, saying that IDPs should not expect wonder from the government. “The government is trying to do its utmost and what is humanly possible for the displaced ones. People shouldn't expect miracle from us. It can only be done by some angel,” he said.

“We are not living here of our own free will; just get us some proper place to stay and we will leave it,” Mohammad Basar Sorjo told this correspondent at Makli's graveyard where he has been passing his days and nights for the last 72 hours. He would never have imagined that he would have to pass nights in the graveyard.

Thatta used to be the bastion of power of the PPP which got more votes from Thatta (and Lyari) than from Larkana, the native constituency of the Bhuttos, till 1988.

Late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had chosen one of this district's seats to contest elections in 1970. His daughter and assassinated PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto always had been considerate towards Thatta in her life.

Then the graph of its popularity started to decline. In the recent past its opponents, the Shirazis, had given PPP a tough time. The Shriazis led the district government of Thatta in 2005 party-less local bodies' elections and won three seats in 2008 national polls too, one of the National Assembly and two of the Sindh Assembly.

Today the people of Thatta, far from their abodes, are fighting for food and are being fired upon for grabbing meal. One woman was killed while two others injured on Friday in Makli Stadium in an effort to receive some food.

IDPs chasing vans driven at fast speed on the city' roads with relief goods and food are becoming a common sight.

The Sindh government released more than Rs80 million for relief activity, but where the amount is being spent remains unknown.

“We are taking him to hospital now because he is bleeding,” said a young man who was shifting an almost unconscious man fallen from a moving pick-up on the main road outside Makli hospital while trying to get some relief goods.

Tents for IDPs could even be seen inside the civil hospital.

Oblivious of the health hazards, these displaced persons are exposed to blazing sunlight and poor living conditions. Displaced families, at places, sit close to animal's excrement while completely ignorant of the risk it poses to their health.

Unkempt, unclean and barefooted children play in the soil full of threats to them.

Cases of gastroenteritis, skin and eye infections are being reported to mobile unit of the Civil Hospital of Makli, according to medical superintendent of the hospital. Medical attention remains unhelpful amidst unhygienic conditions.

Wandering among IDPs was MNA Marvi Memon who has established a relief camp in the Steel Mills Colony, off Makli road. She was trying to make it a model camp. “I'll live with them (flood survivors) to be able to know the condition they live,” Marvi told Dawn inside a tent as she was surrounded by IDPs.

“Things could have been managed but government functionaries are going wayward, leaving people to die from hunger. Even the breaches that occurred could have been plugged or at least contained if timely steps were taken,” admits a PPP MPA, requesting his name should not be revealed.

The IDPs bear with the suffocating environment while hoping against hope that they might be able to return to their native places if the authorities gear up their pace of work and plug the breaches.

Indignant IDPs are also ready to create problems for passers by and motorists by blocking roads. For the time being, they have no option but to compromise with the situation which is not going to change for them.

“We have some emergency, but they have blocked it [road] and do not let us go,” said a motorist, who was beaten black and blue by protesting villagers near Chatu Chand off the Hyderabad-Thatta road.

Residents of the villages of Fateh Mohammad Jakhro, Maula Bux Jakhro, Kamal Jakhro and Ali Mohammad Jakhro were raising hue and cry that river water was approaching their villages, but no one turned up to protect them.

“Look the KB [Kalri Baghar] feeder lower is overflowing with river water and our village with 200 houses is faced with threat of inundation. I don't know to whom should we turn to,” complained Abdul Aziz, a resident of the village of Hashim Sheikh.

Local people said that floodwater was heading towards Thatta to inundate it from Jam branch, a canal originating from KB feeder and Faqir Goth via Labour Colony. They said it might hit the city from fish market site.

“But I don't think water will enter the city. I plan to return after watching the flow of water. Flow is towards low-lying area,” said a motorcyclist.