Manchhar Lake bloats to threatening level

As many as 400 villages have been inundated as the authorities could not be able to plug breaches in Suprio and FP Bunds, while Manchhar Lake reached its ultimate level of 121 feet. Ural Head was breached to dilute the water pressure at the Lake, raising the outflow to 10,000 cusecs with inflow from MNV Drain at 28,000 cusecs. According to the Irrigation Department, the water from the Lake would be let out into Indus Link by causing a cut in MNV Drains Zero Point. A three-member commission has struck final decision in this connection. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah will formally announce it today. Meantime, the torrents from various canals of the Lake have inundated at least 60 villages and crops standing on several acres of land. In view of massively precarious condition, the Irrigation Department officials are supervising the work regarding raising the bunds from Lakes Zero Point to RD-100 by two feet with the help of heavy machinery. A temporary protective embankment is being built to save Tehsil Sehwan city of Bhan Saeedabad from the flood situation.