HYDERABAD: The deputy commissioners (DCs) of Matiari and Sujawal on Saturday inspected protective embankments along the Indus River to ensure that flood-prevention arrangements were in place for public safety.
Matiari DC Muhammad Yousuf Shaikh visited several points of Indus embankments, including Ghullian, Hala Purana, Bhanooth, Kalyan, Fatehpur Loop Bund and Hala Spur.
He reviewed strengthening works at T-spur where Irrigation Project Director Ghulam Mohiuddin Mughal briefed him on stone pitching and placement of additional boulders to reinforce weak sections.
Officials reported that a flow of 360,000 cusecs was currently passing through the river, but assured that the embankments were capable of withstanding super flood pressure.
Irrigation Executive Engineer Pir Salahuddin informed the DC about monitoring arrangements, including watch posts, flood-fighting materials and machinery stationed along the bund.
The DC also inspected medical camps set up by the health, livestock and poultry departments for displaced families and villagers living near the embankments.
Health officials reported that 70 medical camps and mobile teams had treated 1,740 people so far.
Livestock authorities said six permanent camps and three mobile teams were operational, with over 105,000 animals vaccinated, 2,500 treated, and more than 32,000 shifted to safer locations. Poultry officials said that over 19,000 domestic birds had also been treated.
The Matiari DC directed all the departments to maintain close coordination and remain alert. He said 12 relief camps had been established and 110 identified for possible emergency use, though no families had yet shifted there, preferring to stay with relatives.
He appealed to the public to avoid unnecessary movement along the embankments, stressing that water levels in the Indus were still fluctuating.
Meanwhile, Sujawal DC Zahid Hussain Rind inspected the final embankment at Koka Wari along with Irrigation Executive Engineer Fayyaz Hussain Wagan and other officials.
He reviewed the river flow, embankment’s condition and flood safety arrangements.
He instructed officials to pay special attention to weak sections of the bund and ensure round-the-clock monitoring, while keeping sandbags and machinery on standby for emergencies. The DC also stressed inter-departmental coordination and timely communication with local residents.
He said the district administration was vigilantly monitoring the rising water levels in the Indus and all possible measures were being taken to safeguard the population.
