SUKKUR: PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari praised on Saturday the arrangements made by Sindh government to meet the challenge of flood and said floodwater was safely heading for the sea.

He was talking to the flood-affected people of kutcha areas during visit to a tent city set up for them at Niaman Landhi along Qadirpur Loop Bund near Ghotki.

Earlier, he took an aerial view of Qadirpur Loop Bund and Shaink Bund. When he reached the tent city, he was warmly welcomed by the flood-affected people.

He was briefed by Sindh Irrigation Secretary Babar Ali Effendi about the efforts made to cope with the threat of flood.

The PPP chairman was informed that a peak of 366,000 cusecs had crossed Guddu Barrage after which the water level was receding there. On the other hand, water flow was increasing at Sukkur Barrage but it faced no threat.

Mr Effendi said that vulnerable embankments of the river, including Shaink Bund, had been strengthened over the past three to four days, and the work was still underway.

He said that suggestions given by the Federal Flood Commission had been implemented and a report in this regard submitted to the Supreme Court.

Later, the PPP leader visited different relief camps where he met flood-affected people and distributed food among them.

They thanked him for visiting their relief camps and said it made them feel they were not alone in this hour of trial.

The PPP chairman was accompanied by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Ahmed Shah and MNA Ali Muhammad Mahar.

Published in Dawn, September 21th, 2014