BAHAWALNAGAR: A 50-foot wide breach caused by heavy torrential rains in the protection dyke of Sutlej river near the Shamska village has flooded the nearby area, destroying crops on about 10,000 acre land in the last four days and more damage is feared in the coming days.

The residents of the area fear the floodwater could destroy the only bridge (Baba Fareed Bridge) over the Sutlej near Mari Chakoka between Minchinabad and Pakpattan and affect residential localities if steps to control the situation are not taken at the earliest.

Hundreds of villagers, residing on the riverbed, have been stranded along with thousands of cattle whereas paddy and fodder crops have also been ruined by the floodwater, the revenue department sources said.

The villagers said the breach occurred on July 21 but the administration started paying visits to the area a day after the incident when a huge protest was held by the locals. While terming their visits mere photo sessions, the locals alleged that the administration had done nothing to plug the breach yet. They feared that if the rain started again, which was expected to continue till Aug 3, it could cause massive losses of life and property. They said thousands of affected people needed several flood relief camps from Shamska village to the Mari Chakoka area; however, the administration had set up only one relief camp of Rescue 1122.

An official of Rescue 1122 told Dawn thousands of acres of land spread over a 20km area had been affected. He said hundreds of people had been stranded and most of them had refused to leave their area and they were waiting for the administration to plug the breach in the protection dyke. He said that the rescuers were helping those who wanted to be evacuated, adding that boats were also ready to rescue people in case of any emergency.

Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Javed Cheema confirmed that about 10,000 acre land had been inundated by the river water, adding that the breach could not be plugged because of the high water flow. He said that the work to plug the breach could be started from today (Sunday) because the irrigation officials had visited the site and the water flow in the river was gradually decreasing.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2022