JHANG: The floodwater of the river Chenab has flooded about 60 villages from Bhochra upstream to Mansoor Sial on the left side of the river and from Ratta Kalan to Anaranwala on its right side.

The inhabitants of the villages close to the riverbank have shifted to the safer places along with their cattle and other moveable property.

Other prominent villages affected by the floodwater are Sultanpur, Kurhianwala, Pakkaywala, Billi Habib, Mohal and Mansoor Sial on the left bank and Khalar Awan, Balian, Sher Garh, Alipur, Daduana, Chund Bharwana, Hassan Khan and Anaranwala on the right bank. Crops in these villages, particularly fodder crops and rice, have faced a substantial damage due to the floodwater.

The Trimmu headworks is discharging more than 186,146 cusecs water (medium level flood) but the flood level at Shah Jewna bridge near Chund Bharwana village, 30km upstream Trimmu is unofficially in excess of 200,000 cusecs.

The floodwater in the river Chenab is flowing over Jhang-Sargodha road near Billi Habib, Patowana and Pakkaywala although the traffic has not been stopped yet. The Rescue 1122 has established 13 rescue posts at various points equipped with boats, medicines and life-saving jackets to evacuate the marooned people and provide them medical facility. The river water has started receding on the evidence reports reaching here.

SARGODHA: Seven villages of tehsil Kot Momin along the bank of the river Chenab have been badly affected by flood in the river while a majority of villages around Midh Ranjha have been issued flood alert by the administration, which has advised the people to shift to safer places.

The villages along the bank of the river Jhelum in tehsils of Bhera and Shahpur also received flood warnings as the water flow in the river is increasing. Besides standing crops, the houses have also been affected by the flood.

Though the district administration claim that the dykes are safe and strong, excessive overflow of water from the river may damage the crops. Precautionary measures have been taken and relief camps have been set up in various villages.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2020