Strong water currents in Sutlej River breach protective dykes in Bahawalpur

Flood level falls to medium at Islam Headworks, Ganda Singh Wala in Sutlej River

BAHAWALPUR (Dunya News) – Strong water currents of Sutlej River breached many protective dykes in Bahawalpur and adjacent areas inundating a number of villages sending a panic wave among residents of the localities.

At Empress bridge water flow was 130,000 cusecs which flooded Weaslan, Sahlan and Lal De Goth settlements. However, the administration had moved the residents along with their livestock to safer place well before time. But standing crops over a vast area were flooded.

Flood level fell to medium at Islam Headworks and Ganda Singh Wala in Sutlej River.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the PDMA said the authority was closely monitoring the situation and relief measures were under way in the affected districts.

Also Read: High-level flood in Sutlej puts lives at stake

The PDMA spokesperson said 970 people were rescued in Bahawalnagar, Kasur, Okara, Pakpattan, Lodhran, Vihari and Bahawalpur from August 23 to 26;

32,000 people benefited from medical camps established in these districts; 175 relief camps were set up in the affected areas; and rations were distributedamong 300 flood-affected families.

The spokesperson said 21,000 cattle were moved to safe places from affected areas. Till Sunday, 480 villages remained affected by the flood situation in Punjab, he added.

Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabil Javed said life was returning to normalcy and the displaced people would return to their homes soon too.

“All possible steps are being taken to restore the flood-affected areas. According to the instructions of the caretaker chief minister, the restoration of the flood-affected areas is the first priority,” he was quoted as saying by the PDMA statement.

The statement said he directed administrative officers to remain present in the field at all times, adding that negligence towards their duty or lack of responsibility would not be tolerated.