SAHIWAL: Rescue 1122 has set up a flood and medical relief camp at the left side of the River Ravi after land erosion complaints by Dad Baloch villagers after three days rain.

The village has seen land erosion phenomena for over a decade for, what they say, the non-development of an embankment at the site. The villages risking erosion include Dad Baloch, Koray Shah Zarian, Natho Wasli, Shaikh Tayyab, Karam Baloch and Shahmand Baloch.

The district administration evacuated 21 villages because of high-level floods and land erosion in the river in 2014.

Villagers say officials of irrigation and district government departments visited villages many times but nothing concrete came out of them. They demand an embankment near Madhali Bridge.

Up to 10 to 12 rescuers, two vehicles, a boat, a crane and medical rescue facilities have been provided to Dad Baloch.

Sources at Head Baloki Telegraph office told Dawn there was no high flow of water as all heads would remain closed from Dec 28 to Jan 15.

Official data stated that upstream and downstream water flow at Head Baloki is around 17,575 cusecs.

Irrigation SDO Sarfaraz said there was rain upstream, water flow went up, but there was no chance of flood in the river. The irrigation department has set up a camp to monitor the situation.

Deputy Commissioner Wajid Ali Shah issued an alert over Dad Baloch land erosion and water flow situation.

He ordered line departments to install emergency camps to meet any situation.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2022