MULTAN, July 7: Around 240,000 people have been affected in the 11 flood-hit union councils of Layyah district while standing crops on nearly 95,000 acres have been destroyed causing a loss of around Rs1 billion. Official sources in Layyah, while quoting a recent survey, told Dawn on Thursday that about 89 villages had been submerged by the distended river Indus, forcing some 41,700 population to migrate to safer places. Of them, some 11,000 had been taking refuge in the relief camps set up by the district administration while the rest had reportedly sought help of their relatives.

The flood-ravaged areas in the district are; Samtia, Warra Seharra, Baseera, Sahowala, Kotla Haji Shah, Lohanch Nashaib, Jakharr, Kot Sultan and Bakhari Ahmad.

Sources said Kot Sultan and Bakhari Ahmad Khan were collectively the third largest chili producing area in the country. The other crops affected were cotton, sugarcane, molasses and vegetables, they added.

Layyah is ranked as the most backward district in the Punjab where only 13 per cent of the population lives in towns while the rest in villages.

Meanwhile, people have reportedly raised questions about the official flood warning system as they say they would not have sown crops and invested heavily if they were informed before hand about prospects of the extraordinary flood this year.

It may be pertinent to mention here that the banks do not advance loans to the farmers of riverine areas and consequently they have to invest from their own resources.

Another bitter reality of the riverine people is that they are prohibited by law to have their private boats. The mighty river Indus flows in seven creeks through the district and the people have to frequently travel by boats.

The district council, however, awards contract of river transportation every year in its jurisdiction for Rs1.5 million.

Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi is scheduled to visit the flood-hit areas of Layyah on Friday (today).

Former nazim Shahabuddin Seharr, in the meanwhile, has reportedly written letters to the president and the prime minister seeking special funds for the rehabilitation of the flood-hit areas. He has also sent letters to international donors, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, to draw their attention towards the Layyah calamity.