Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday contacted the provincial ministers assigned with flood emergency duties regarding the flood situation in the River Indus and instructed them to strictly monitor the embankments and irrigation systems on both the right and left banks of the river.
According to a statement issued by the CM House, Minister for Irrigation Jam Khan Shoro briefed the CM on the river situation.
The briefing revealed that at 12 noon on Saturday, the water flow upstream of the Guddu Barrage was recorded at 383,299 cusecs while it was 350,943 cusecs downstream of the barrage.
At the Sukkur Barrage, the upstream flow was 313,000 cusecs and downstream flow was 259,050 cusecs, while at the Kotri Barrage, it was 264,131 cusecs upstream and 233,216 cusecs downstream.
The CM was informed that the water situation at the barrages was currently under control and all the safety measures had been completed.
On this occasion, Shah directed the relevant provincial departments and district administrations to remain fully active in the field. He said the relevant ministers should continuously supervise all the measures.
The ministers assured the CM that the barrages and embankments were being continuously monitored and they had been visiting the banks to ensure the safety of the people living nearby.
The CM urged the residents living along the riverbanks and in the low-lying areas to fully cooperate with the administration to ensure their protection in case of any emergency.
Flood preparations
Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah on Saturday visited the provincial flood control room, where he was briefed by the control room incharge on the flood situation.
Sindh government spokesman Mustafa Abdullah Baloch, the environment secretary and the general administration secretary were also present in the control room, along with representatives of the relevant departments.
CS Shah was informed that flood would pass from the Guddu Barrage on September 3. The barrage currently has a flow of 389,298 cusecs upstream and 356,942 cusecs downstream.
At the Sukkur Barrage the flow is 315,272 cusecs upstream and 260,512 cusecs downstream, while the flow at the Kotri Barrage is 262,668 cusecs upstream and 230,212 cusecs downstream.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), 268,000 tents, 278,000 blankets, and thousands of rescue boats and other equipment are in stock at the PDMA’s warehouses, 1.8 million mosquito nets are available at the PDMA’s Karachi, Jamshoro and Sukkur warehouses. The PDMA has 9,950 first aid kits and 68 hospital tents.
The health department has accelerated the supply of snakebite medicine, rabies vaccine and other essential drugs. Mobile health teams have been deployed in remote areas, while vaccination points are also being set up on the spot.
The livestock department has set up 300 camps for animal vaccination across the province, where 87,677 animals have been treated, and medical teams are on alert in all districts.
Moreover, 166,817 animals have been dewormed, while all mobile veterinary teams are present in field, and vaccines and medicines are available in the required quantities.
Rescue 1122 has been put on high alert, while the deployment of their teams and equipment has started in the affected districts, and mobile hospitals and mobile vaccination units are also being deployed in the affected areas. The following telephone numbers have been installed to reach the control room: 021-99222902, 021-99222967, 021-99222758 and 021-99222758.
