NAROWAL: More than 65 villages and thousands of acres of agricultural land around them were submerged by floodwater as drain Dek overflowed while railway track between Qila Ahmedabad and Pasrur railway stations was washed away, suspending the rail traffic on the Narowal-Sialkot section on Thursday.

Due to the ongoing heavy rains in India held Kashmir, the water level in rainwater drain Dek has risen to a dangerous level. Water is overflowing from other places, including Jandia and Chahoor, due to high level flood. The affected villages include Kalowali, Kalowali Kalan, Rupowali, Kherry, Phakki Key, Narangwali, Rasoolpur, Lala, Jessywala, Jangiwala, Pola and Nadali.

Thousands of acres of agricultural land in both the districts where rice crops and animal fodder were cultivated have been submerged by the floodwater. Due to the high level of flooding in Dek, the administrations of Narowal and Sialkot have warned the citizens to move their belongings and animals to safer places.

According to the sources, floodwater has entered many villages of the district Sialkot. According to the irrigation department, there is a capacity of 25,000 cusecs in Dek but due to heavy rains in the India held Kashmir, the water level in the drain has risen to 31,500 cusecs. Communication with many villages has also been cut off due to the flood.

65 villages in Narowal and Sialkot flooded by Dek overflow

According to Station Master Javed Shah, the track between Qila Ahmedabad and Pasrur railway stations has been washed away due to floodwater. The Lassani Express passenger train going from Lahore to Narowal/Sialkot remained standing for two hours between Qila Ahmedabad and Pasrur. The train was not allowed to pass due to the rapid flow of floodwater on the track. The railway administration brought the Lassani Express back to the Qila Ahmed Railway Station and asked the passengers to vacate the train. The passengers had to take vans and buses for travel while the train returned to the Narowal Railway Station.

Station Master Javed Shah said the train going from Sialkot to Karachi through Narowal would now take the route of the Wazirabad railway section on Friday (today) and the Lassani Express train will be dispatched to Lahore from Narowal.

Ali Arsalan and Anjum Ali, the residents of Kaluvali village, said the floodwater had entered their cattle pens. Ghulam Hussain and Kamran Ali said though the district administration of Sialkot had made announcements to give warning; however, practically no safety measures were taken by the district administration.

Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Maysam Abbas said there was a high level of fear in the river Chenab and its flow was being monitored in the district along with river Tavi and other rainwater drains. He added that there was a high flood in the Chenab at Head Marala and currently 190,833 cusecs water was flowing in the river while the level was continuously increasing.

Abbas claimed that relief camps had been set up as per the plan while the Rescue 1122 and other departments concerned were ready to deal with any situation.

Narowal District Emergency Officer Naeem Akhtar said the rescue teams had set up four flood camps in Jandiala, Gangra Bridge, Fort Ahmedabad and village Narangwali. He said that no emergency call had been received yet.

Narowal DC Shahid Farid said all the departments had been put on red alert to deal with the flood.

According to the sources in the irrigation department, there is a high level flood in rainwater drain Oaj in Tehsil Shakargarh. They expressed apprehension that the water level in the rain drain as well as river Ravi would rise further in the next 24 hours.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2022