SAHIWAL: The divisional irrigation department claims that water level at Head Baloki has shrunk from 1,28,000 cusecs to 53,500 cusecs, bringing the Ravi back to its normal flow, i.e. 35,000 cusecs but before receding, the floodwater has rendered enough damage to population in the division in the last five days.

Nine people have lost their life in the division while 214 villages located on eastern side of the river have been badly affected by the flood, Dawn has learnt.

According to figures provided to Dawn by sources, 21,000 people have been affected by the flood, 59 have been injured, 3,103 houses partially or fully collapsed and crops over 12,334 acres land have been destroyed. Seven villages have been affected by land erosion in the Ravi.

The villages are: Dad Balooch, Shamnad Balooch, Karam Balooch, Koray Shah, Nathu Wasli, Murad Kay Kathia, and Shaikh Tayab. Dr Khalid Abdullah, District Emergency Officer, said 292 people were rescued along with their belongings and livestock by Rescue 1122 while 300 more people were evacuated to safer places through boats provided by military and other sources. Later, they were shifted to 15 relief camps set up in Okara and Sahiwal where 100 makeshift tents were erected to accommodate the flood victims.

Commissioner Muhammad Sadiq Shaikh said that from among 292 evacuated persons, around 204 had returned to their homes or their relatives in nearby villages. He said if land erosion did not stop after flood, a dyke would be constructed to save 20,000 population of seven villages which are directly under threat from the Ravi.

Sahiwal DCO Dr Sajid Mahmood said each family whose member died in the flood had been given Rs1.6m cheque.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2014