Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday sought a detailed report from Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah about the damages caused by the rains in the province, and the measures taken by the provincial government to assist the affected people.
Officials said Bilawal expressed deep concerns over the damages caused by heavy rains in various parts of Sindh. He told CM Shah to provide a comprehensive report on the damages and relief efforts in Sukkur, Larkana, Khairpur and other areas.
The PPP chief remarked that the Sukkur and Larkana divisions are once again bearing the brunt of climate change effects. He directed the Sukkur and Larkana mayors to ensure the swift drainage of rainwater from the low-lying areas in their cities.
He ordered an immediate investigation into the breach in the dam in District Khairpur, emphasising the need to minimise the damage, and provide prompt assistance to the affected people.
He stressed that the relief & rehabilitation department and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) must fulfil their responsibilities in assisting the rain-affected people. He assured the victims that the PPP would stand by them and provide them unwavering support during this difficult time.
Rain situation
The CM later chaired a rain emergency meeting, during which he said Sukkur, Dadu, Jacobabad, Khairpur and Naushahro Feroze have received heavy rains that have inundated roads and streets, so effective measures must be taken to protect people’s lives and properties before carrying out dewatering.
“I want to see the entire government machinery, including the district administrations and the local bodies, particularly in the rain-affected areas, working on roads, helping people, and the irrigation department patrolling the embankments of canals and distributaries to avoid breaches.”
He said that according to the report sent to him by the commissioners, Sukkur has received 227mm of rain, Dadu 181mm, Jacobabad 104mm, Khairpur 101mm and Naushahro Feroze 69mm.
Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani said he has activated the local bodies all over Sindh and provided them with the necessary facilities to work properly in the rain-affected areas.
Sukkur Commissioner Fayaz Abbasi said District Sukkur has received 263mm of rain and District Khairpur 106mm in four spells within 25 hours. He said rainwater of three spells was dealt with, and the roads and low-lying areas were cleared within three or four hours, while rainwater of the fourth spell is being dealt with.
The meeting was told that in District Khairpur, Khairpur City recorded 106mm of rain and Kingri Taluka 105mm. Rainwater was drained out from Khairpur City.
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, while 21 people suffered injuries, five buffaloes died and 48 houses were damaged.
Larkana Commissioner Mustafa Phul said that Jacobabad received 104mm of rain, Thul 74mm, Kambar 59mm, Shikarpur 41mm, and another division area between 17mm and 56mm.
Hyderabad Commissioner Bilal Memon said KN Shah and Johi of District Dadu received 181mm and 116mm of rain respectively, Thano Bola Khan of Jamshoro 33mm, Matiari 16mm, Tando Allahyar 24mm, and Hussain Bux Mari and Mirpurkhas 54mm. PDMA Director General Salman Shah said that 26,150 tents, 80,750 mosquito nets, 25,650 sleeping mats, 12,300 cotton mattresses, 12,900 synthetic sleeping mats, 7,700 hygiene kits and 25,750 jerry cans have been sent to the rain-affected areas for people’s relief.
Senior minister Sharjeel Memon said he is working in close coordination with the Hyderabad administration and has activated all the departments concerned to address any rain emergency. The Shaheed Benazirabad commissioner said Naushahro Feroze received 69mm of rain, Sanghar 58mm and Daur 25mm.
All the divisional commissioners complained about Hesco and Sepco over power outages at pumping station feeders, affecting water disposal badly. The CM directed Energy Minister Nasir Shah to instruct power distribution companies to exempt pumping stations from load-shedding and other interruptions.
Irrigation Secretary Zarif Khero briefed the meeting about the flood situation, specifically focusing on the flooding of the Kirthar ranges, whose catchments are located in Balochistan. These catchments are not gauged, complicating the flood forecast for the right bank of the Indus River in Sindh during yearly monsoons.
Referring to the historic gauges and predicted rainfall, Khero said that the existing infrastructure can hold the forecasted floods. The CM directed the irrigation department to shift the HQs of the right bank Sukkur chief engineer and the drainage chief engineer to the vulnerable areas to monitor the flood situations.
