THATTA: A large population mar­oo­ned in flooded villages in union council Baghan is facing starvation in the aftermath of recent torrential rain in the twin coastal districts of Thatta and Sujawal.

Irrigation experts and local villagers believed that if the government did not take precautionary measures like earth-filling on left and right banks of Ochto outfall drain, strengthening of the dykes of Ghorabari tributary and Udero Lal channel and rehabilitation of Tikka drain regulator the situation might become disastrous in upcoming third spell of rain predicted by the Meteorology department for August and September.

The marooned population particularly in the deltaic area called for immediate help to save their lives before the third spell wreaked havoc with their villages.

Residents of 300 Kachho villages need food and water

Residents of more than 300 marooned villages in Kachho region face shortages of food, safe drinking water and medicine as the Dadu district administration has not yet been able to restore their road link with each other and with nearby towns, our Dadu correspondent Qurban Ali Khushik adds.

The main roads of Wahi-Johi, Wahi -Gorakh hill station, Chhinni-Johi, Tando Rahim Khan-Johi, Haji Khan-Johi, Drigh Bala-Johi remain submerged in rainwater and main bridges of Kakar-Nai Gaaj dam along with five small and two big bridges that washed away in hill torrents in the wake of heavy rains from July 7 to 27 have not yet been repaired.

The residents of Sawaro, Tando Rahim Khan, Chhinni, Wahi Pandhi, Drigh Bala, Shah Hassan, Haji Khan and Pario Jamali were the worst affected by the rain and its aftermath.

Dadu DC Syed Murtaza Ali Shah said that a total of five people had died in rain-related incidents in different parts of Kachho from July 7 to 27. Two men were electrocuted in Mehar and three died in Kachho, he said.

He said that survey of damage in Kachho had been completed and work on the restoration of roads would start within a few days after stagnant rainwater receded.

For the last 12 days, the villagers had been confined to their homes and continued to face problems in moving about for fulfilling essential needs as the only means of travel was boat, which could not carry many people at a time.

The marooned villagers appealed to the authorities concerned to provide them safe drinking water and food.

Ali Bux Rustamani in Wahi Pandhi said that they were in bad need of clean water and medicine. Despite heavy damage to their houses, they could not repair them, he said.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority’s director operations Sindh Imdad Siddiqi said that 1000 tents and ration for 15 days had been distributed among the flood-hit people. There were fears of deaths from waterborne diseases if preventive measures were not taken in time, he said.

Dr Allah Bux Korejo, child specialist at Dadu Civil Hospital, confirmed that 200 children suffering from gastro had reported at the hospital after heavy rains.

Dr Zubair Panhwar, medical superintendent of Johi taluka hospital, said that 50 children infected with gastro and other diseases reported at the hospital daily after heavy rains.

Four children die of gastro

Ten-year-old Jameela in Jam Babar, five-year-old Safeen Babar in Drigh Bala, Mansoor Babar in Kando Babar village and nine-year-old Gulistan Chandio died of gastroenteritis during and after rains.Dadu DHO Dr Ahmed Ali said that four fixed and eight mobile medical camps had been functioning in various parts of Kachho since heavy rains lashed the area. About 2,500 children had been treated at the camps and a number of deaths of children had also happened for reasons other than gastro, he said.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2022