SAHIWAL: The district administration, highway and irrigation departments have been making concerted efforts for the last two days to save the left dyke which faces the threat of erosion by the Ravi near Qutab Shahana, Sahiwal-Faisalabad road.

Highway Executive Engineer (EXEN) Mansoor Hyder tell Dawn that the left dyke of the river is connected with the Sahiwal-Faisalabad main road and there is a possibility that flood water will flow into the road disconnecting traffic between Faisalabad and Sahiwal.

He says around 100 trucks of stones and mud have been thrown at different places where the river is eroding the land.

Mr Mansoor says heavy machinery is operational to fill all possible gaps where there is a danger of land erosion and flood. He says the Lower Bari Doab Canal EXEN is providing technical advice for filling of the left dyke while the highway department has arranged the required machinery.

Deputy Commissioner Khizer Afzal has visited the [land erosion] place thrice.

“Efforts are on to save surrounding villages from upcoming possible floods and main road. If the rain continues there is a danger of a medium level flood in the Ravi,” he says. Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 has set up four emergency camps at villages located at the left side of the Ravi facing flood threat near Qutab Shahana village.

The Ravi is flowing at 35,000 cusec water downstream at Head Baloki.

District Emergency Officer Dr Khalid Abdullah says emergency camps have been erected at Nathu Wasli, Dad Balooch, Koray Shah, and Basti Shaikh Tayab. He says camps are having all kinds of equipment and warning has been issued to more than 12 villages and localities. “The leaves of local Rescue 1122 staff have been cancelled and we are on 24-hour alert.”

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2022