DERA GHAZI KHAN: The miseries of people are far from over as a breach in Qutab drain diverted the flow of flood towards Fazilpur.

Fazilpur is an ancient town and business centre adjacent to Indus highway in Rajanpur.

Amin Anjum, a resident of the area, told Dawn that seven to eight feet water destroyed hundreds of houses in the western part of the city and some places on eastern side had three to four feet water. He said the dwellers were being shifted to relatively safe places by the rescuers of the district administration and army. Schools, health facilities and households were submerged by floodwater.

Earlier, the floodwater destroyed human settlements and infrastructure such as roads, bridges and electricity poles besides standing crops spread over thousands of acres.

There is a medium flood in the mountain drains of Kaha and Khosra Baga while exceptionally high flood of 72,600 cusecs is recorded in Chachhar mountain drain. The flow of flood is normal in rest of hill torrents of Rajanpur.

The officials concerned have informed the deputy commissioners of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur about impending high flood in Indus river at Taunsa Barrage.

Meanwhile, on the instructions of Punjab IGP Faisal Shahkar, the local police are engaged in relief activities and efforts to save lives of the people. Police spokesperson said more than 1,100 police personnel were engaged in relief activities in the flood-affected areas of DG Khan region and helped shift more than 4,700 people to safe places.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2022