JHANG: The Jhang city is on red alert against the peak flood, highest in the recorded history of the River Chenab, which will pass the district from Wednesday to Friday.

On Tuesday afternoon, TV news channels aired a story regarding an announcement by the Jhang district coordination officer (DCO) to evacuate the city as the protective dyke was about to succumb to the floodwater. As people started deserting the city in droves, the DCO refuted the news. The late announcements failed to convince the people. By Tuesday night, half of the city looked deserted.

Know more: Super flood in Chenab affects 600 villages

People are aware of the fact that river covers the city in a semi circle from three sides. There are two dykes to protect the city from flooding. The most vulnerable dyke is Thatta Mala Bund that is just 10 kilometers from the city.

The Thatta Mala dyke suffered breaches in 1959 and 1973 floods. On both occasions, the floodwater submerged the Jhang city and played havoc with the life and property of the people.

After the 1973 disaster, the irrigation department paid attention to the very vital dyke, redesigned and improved it.

Once again the Thatta Mala dyke is under tremendous pressure as an exceptionally high flood will pass the district in the next three days.

Authorities caused a breach on Monday in the railway line running between the dyke and the Riwaz bridge (that is just 4km from the river) to mitigate pressure on the dyke. The breach did not serve the purpose as the floodwater has touched the maximum height of the dyke and it is the matter of time before it caves into the flood.

There is another dyke on the western bank of the river which starts from Shah Jeevna village and runs along the river down Hassan Khan and Jharki villages in the Massan police station precincts. A breach in this dyke may save the Jhang city but at the cost of great devastation of rural areas of Shah Jeevna, Rasulpur, Hassan Khan, Haveli Sheikh Raju and Pir Kot union councils.

The other important dyke protecting the Jhang city starts from Jhang-Sargodha railway line and covers the northern part of city, Jhang-Sargodha Road, the western part of the city and Jhang-Bhakkar Road before ending up near the Trimmu head works.

This dyke, which at some points is barely 5km from the river, has been converted into Jhang bypass road for the last three years after it was elevated, broadened and a road was constructed on it. Traditionally, this dyke has never surrendered to floodwaters and its recent fortification makes it an invincible defense of the city. A last ditch measure to save the Jhang city can be breaching the right marginal dyke near the Trimmu head works at Athara Hazari as was done in 1973. This will not only save the Jhang city from disaster but also avert threats to the head works as it can withstand only 675,000 cusec discharge. Arrangements have already been made to dynamite this dyke which will inundate a vast area. The areas have been evacuated and, according to the irrigation department authorities, the breach will be made only after the water level exceeds 650,000 cusecs.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2014