Jhang: More than 100 villages inundated after Athara Hazari dyke breached
Punjab has been taking the brunt of the rain and flooding in Pakistan in recent days
JHANG (Web Desk) – More than hundred villages including densely populated Tehsil Athara Hazari, Garh Maharaja and Kot Bahadur have been inundated by floodwater after Athara Hazari dyke was blown up to save Jhang city and Trimmu Headworks, Dunya News reported on Thursday.
A breach of about 100 foot was created in the protective dyke at 10:00am on Wednesday.
Nine thousand acre of agricultural land has been affected due to flood while Jhang’s road link with Layyah, Multan and Faisalabad has been suspended.
Subsequently, massive water torrent has passed through Head Trimmu and water level has started decreasing.
Now the flood torrent is heading towards Southern Punjab while water has entered several villages in Multan. Authorities have finalized all preparations to blow up Head Mohammad Wala and Sherhshah dykes to save Multan city.
According to district administration, two lakh and sixty eight people have been affected in more than one hundred and fifty villages so far.
On the other hand, affected areas of Sialkot, Jhelum , Gujrat, Narowal and Sheikhpura are still surrounded by flood water. Water level is also increasing at Okara, Sahiwal, Harrapa and Chichawatni areas and evacuation of people living near river is underway. Dozens of villages in Kamalia have also been submerged while people have been moved to safer locations.
Floods caused by monsoon rains are an annual event in South Asia and a series of dams on major rivers are aimed at protecting urban areas in particular from being hit by floods. One of Pakistan s largest cities Multan is downstream from Trimmu dam.
