• Sukkur receives around nine inches of rain in 24 hours, CM told
• Bilawal seeks report on rain damages, relief efforts
• Murad orders irrigation officials to patrol embankments to avoid breaches
• 26,150 tents, 80,750 mosquito nets sent to affected areas, officials say

KARACHI: Heavy rains and urban flooding in Sukkur and other cities of Sindh have prompted the provincial administration to move government machinery for relief operations in the affected areas.

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Sunday chaired an emergency meeting in CM House to review the situation.

The meeting participants were informed that Sukkur, Dadu, Jacobabad, and Naush­ahro Feroze had received heavy rains ranging from 101 mm to 227mm, which has inundated roads and streets and other areas.

Effective measures must be taken to protect life and property of the people and then dewatering efforts may be made, the meeting participants were told.

“I want to see the entire government machinery, including district administration, local bodies, particularly in the rain-affected areas working on the roads, helping people and the irrigation department patrolling on embankments of canals and distributaries to avoid breaches,” a statement issued by CM House quoted the CM as saying.

The meeting was attended by Sindh ministers Sharjeel Memon, Saeed Ghani, adviser Najmi Alam, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Rangers DG Major Gen Azhar Waqas and other senior civil and armed forces officials.

Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Sukkur Mayor Arsalan Islam Shaikh, commissioners of Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas and deputy commissioners joined the meeting via remote video link.

The CM said Sukkur had received 227mm, or 8.93 inches, followed by Dadu 181mm, Jacobabad 104mm, Khairpur 101mm, and Naushahro Feroze 69mm, which was the highest.

Emergency measures

LG Minister Ghani informed the meeting that he had activated local governments all over Sindh and provided them with necessary facilities to work properly in the rain-affected areas.

Sukkur Commissioner Fayaz Abbasi told the CM that there were four spells of heavy rains within 24 hours in district Sukkur. He claimed that three spells were dealt with and roads and low-lying areas were cleared within three to four hours while the rainwater of the fourth spell was being cleared.

The Khairpur city recorded 106mm of rain and Kingri Taluka recorded 105mm. Rainwater was drained out from the Khairpur City, the statement added.

“The PDMA has provided 35 diesel engines, eight dewatering machines, and 12 tractor-mounted machines, in addition to two Mirage Trucks for dewatering Mud Pumps.”

Regarding losses, the CM was informed that 21 people sustained injuries, five buffaloes perished, and 48 houses were damaged.

Larkana Commissioner Mustafa Phul told the CM that Jacobabad received 104mm, Thul 74mm, Kambar 59mm, Shikarpur 41mm, and another division area ranging from 17 to 56mm.

Commissioner of Hyderabad Bilal Memon said that Khairpur Nathan Shah and Johi of Dadu districts have received 181mm and 116mm of rains.

Thano Bola Khan of Jamshoro 33mm, Matiari 16, Tando Allahyar 24, Hussain Bux Mari, and Mirpurkhas 54, respectively.

PDMA DG Salman Shah informed the meeting that 26,150 tents, 80,750 mosquito nets, 25,650 mats, 12,300 cotton mattresses, 12,900 synthetic sleeping mats, 7,700 hygiene kits, and 25,750 jerry cans had been sent to the rain-affected areas for the relief of the people.

The commissioner of Shaheed Benazirabad informed the meeting that Naushahro feroze received 69mm, Sanghar 58, while Daur of Shaheed Benazirabad received 25mm.

All the divisional commissioners complained against Hesco and Sepco for power outages at pumping station feeders that badly hampered rainwater disposal activities.

At this point, the CM directed Energy Minister Nasir Shah to communicate with the power distribution companies and instruct them to free the pumping stations from loadshedding and other interruptions, added the statement.

Irrigation secretary Zarif Khero briefed the CM on the flood situation, specifically focusing on the floods of the Khirthar range, whose catchments areas are located in Balochistan.

“In Balochistan, these catchments are ungauged, complicating the flood forecast for the right bank of the Indus in Sindh during yearly monsoons,” said the statement.

However, referring to the historic gauges and predicted rainfall, secretary Khero said that the existing infrastructure could hold the floods.

Bilawal seeks report

Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has sought a detailed report from the chief minister regarding the damages caused by the rains across the province and measures taken by the provincial government to help people in the affected areas.

“The chairman of PPP expressed his deep concern over the damage caused by the heavy rains in various parts of Sindh. He instructed the chief minister to provide a comprehensive report on the damages and relief efforts in Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur, and other areas across the province,” said a statement issued by Bilawal House.

He also remarked that the Sukkur and Larkana divisions were once again bearing the brunt of climate change.

He directed the mayors of Sukkur and Larkana to ensure swift drainage of rainwater from low-lying areas.

The PPP chairman further instructed that an immediate investigation be conducted into the breach in the dam in Khairpur district, emphasising the need to minimise the damage and provide prompt assistance to the affected people.

He said the PPP would stand by the rain victims and provide them support during this difficult time, added the statement.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2024