The death toll and number of displaced people is increasing rapidly as the floods continue to ravage across Southern Punjab. Section 144 has been imposed in low lying areas. Rangers have been deputed on all river banks across Sindh. Flood waters destroyed homes, soaking crops, and threatening more lives. Lal pur is completely underwater. Floodwaters have caused severe destruction in Kot Addu due to which locals have started vacating the area.Dozens of villages submerged in Sakhar and other areas during the last eight hours due to heavy showers. Floodwater has entered into low lying areas. The current situation is only getting worse as more rain is expected in the coming week.Due to the excessive water inflow in River Sindh a high flood of 900,000 cusecs, will pass through the Guddu barrage on August 5 and Sakhar Barrage on August 7. Government has declared 145 areas in Sindh as sensitive including Larkana, Shikarpur, Khairpur, Ghotki, Naushahro Feroze and Kashmore.According to Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Sakhar barrage is endangered as compared to Guddu barrage because of lesser downstream capacity.Water levels in upstream Guddu barrage on Wednesday is recorded at 462,922 cusecs and 454,330 cusecs in downstream, while water levels in upstream of Sukkur barrage are currently at 225,232 cusecs and 224,132 cusecs in downstream. Several adjacent districts have been declared sensitive and the provincial government has beefed up security. The army has dispatched rescue teams with boats, first aid kits and life saving jackets to Panu Aaqil areas to assist those affected by rising water levels.Thousands of people living along River Indus have not evacuated their homes despite the imposition of Section 144 in the area. The residents complain inadequate facilities in the relief camps.Water surged into Kot Addu town on after breaching the banks of the Taunsa-Punjnad link and Muzaffargarh canals. Kot Addu is the second town in the Muzaffargarh district flooded in less than 12 hours. Railway traffic on the Multan-Rawalpindi section has been stopped and Daira Din Pannah has no link with Kot Addu by road or rail. At least three kilometer portion of rail tracks near Taunsa barrage is under water.It is pertinent to mention that the Meteorological Department has forecast widespread rains in Sindh, Punjab, southwestern Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir during the next three days.
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