THATTA, Aug 28 Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that natural diversion of floodwaters towards south has raised hopes the violent flood will run through outer fringes of a number of urban areas of Thatta district, including Daro to ultimately drop into the Arabic Ocean.

Addressing a press conference at the Circuit House in Makli on Saturday, Mr Shah said that Daro and Mirpur Bathoro town were safe and the floodwater was streaming towards south through Sujawal. He was hopeful “Allah will help us get through the crises”.

He blamed his predecessors for paying little attention towards maintenance of the Indus bunds and said his government was aware of its responsibilities and was giving preference to protection, relief and later rehabilitation of internally displaced persons.

Answering a question about mismanagement, panic, non-provision of food and water to IDPs, the chief minister said “Please don't expect miracles from us.”

He said that there was no doubt tail-end district of Thatta had suffered major losses and suffering but the scale of damage could not be compared with that of five districts of upper Sindh where over 1.5 million people had been displaced.

He said that Sindh government was on waiting for the aid to pour in from abroad and had deposited Rs10 billion to meet the situation. However, international philanthropists, donors, and well-to-do were also coordinating and there was no shortage of funds, he said.

He said that Thatta district had suffered minimum loss of life in an incident when six villagers had drowned in Darri canal. Irrigation department was doing well but it was being interrupted by enraged people to carry out its task to plug the Faqir Jo Goth breach, he said.

Mr Shah said that Indus had not experienced such a huge quantum of water, particularly downstream, for about past one and a half decade and the personnel of irrigation department had to look after over 166 vulnerable points throughout the province at the same time after a long period.