DADU: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday took an aerial view of rain-hit and flooded areas of Dadu and Jamshoro districts and distributed relief goods among marooned families. He also announced a relief package for the rehabilitation of roads in the badly affected areas and also compensation against loss of life and property.

The CM received briefings from the officials concerned on rain devastation and position of Manchhar Lake, Darawat Dam and other water bodies in the two districts.

Later, speaking to the media at different places, Mr Shah said that all main and link roads connecting hundreds of villages within the Kachho belt of Dadu district would be rehabilitated under the emergency relief package.

He said distribution of ration among the effected families in Kachho, Kohistan and other rain-hit areas of Dadu and Jamshoro districts had already begun and financial assistance would be extended to the families soon. Initially, he added, Dadu district’s six main roads linking Johi with Wahi Pandhi, Chhinni, Drigh Bala, Sawaro, Haji Khan and TR Khan would be rehabilitated while the damaged bridges along Kachho belt and Khirthar mountain range would be repaired.

Pledges compensation over loss of life and property, rehabilitation of roads and bridges

He issued necessary directions in this regard to the officials concerned.

He told the media that sufficient stocks of ration, tents, medicines, plastic sheets and other relief goods had already been made available to the district administrations for distribution among the affected people.

In Johi, he distributed the relief goods among 1,000 families living in Chhinni, Sawaro, TR Khan and Shah Hassan union councils. He took an aerial view of Nai Gaaj dam and Manchhar Lake which received hill torrents during the recent week-long heavy rainfall in the region. Several hundred villages along the route have been hit by flooding and their road links with Johi town washed away. Over 500 families in the area have been rendered homeless.

Dadu Deputy Commissioner Syed Murtaza Ali Shah, briefing the CM on rain devastation, said that five people were reported killed and over 550 houses destroyed during the heaviest spell of rain which had started on July 23 and continued for about 36 hours in the Khirthar range and Kachho belt. The water level in Nai Gaaj went up to 24 feet from10 feet during the July 7 to 27 rainfall, he added.

He said that 16 boats were employed to pick marooned people from their villages and take them to safe places. Over 2,000 ailing and injured people were provided treatment at four health facilities and eight mobile medical camps in Kachho, he added.

The CM announced a compensation of Rs1 million against each rain-related death.

On his arrival in Dadu, Mr Shah was received by MNA Rafiq Ahmed Jamali and MPA Pir Syed Saleh Shah Jilani. DC Murtaza Shah and SSP Irfan Ali Samoo accompanied them.

The chief minister also visited Manchhar Lake and received a briefing from Jamshoro district and irrigation officials.

Jamshoro DC retired Capt Fariduddin Mustafa informed him that water level in Manchar Lake had crossed the danger level a couple of days back after which Aral and Tail regulators were opened. It now came down to RL 116.6 today (July 30), he said.

During his visit to Sehwan Sharif, Mr Shah heard grievances of the fishermen community living around Manchhar Lake and directed the district administration to resolve their issues on a priority basis. He also flew over Thana Bola Khan to inspect Darawat Dam.

MPA Malik Asad Sikandar accompanied him during his visit to Jamshoro district.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2022