DADU, July 14: Twenty more villages in Khairpur Nathan Shah and Johi were inundated on Saturday as floodwater reached Qureshi Ji Mori in the district’s west. The inundated villages are located in Pat Gul Mohammad and Bug Buriro union councils and the Mian Naseer Mohammad Kalhoro area.

Floodwater is reported to have reached the Johi branch embankment, located between the Main Nara Valley Drain and the flood protection embankment, threatening Johi city. Sources said that floodwater was likely to reach the city in four days.

However, Federal Water and Power Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi, during his visit to the flooded areas, said that the flood was unlikely to affect Johi.

Speaking to journalists in Johi, he said that a ring embankment was being built to protect Johi town and the flood was not likely to affect the town. He said people were returning to their homes in 10 villages in Mehar taluka after flood receded in some areas.

Meanwhile, the government was doing nothing to protect historical sites like the graveyard of Kalhoro rulers.

Archaeologist Syed Hakim Ali Shah Bukhari said that the government should protect historical sites, including all tombs and the Garhi Mosque.

Meanwhile, the Sindh Minister for Irrigation, Nadir Akmal Leghari, has ordered district governments to provide relief goods without discrimination. He ordered the DCOs to update the Sindh government about the flood situation on a daily basis.

He was presiding over a flood committee meeting in Dadu on Saturday.

He said the government was trying to divert floodwater in River Indus through Manchhar Lake. He said the provincial government was shifting people as floodwater advanced towards Manchhar.