THATTA: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday paid surprise visit to relief camps in the four districts of Hyderabad division to get firsthand knowledge of the conditions in which flood victims were living in the camps and in their makeshifts abodes along roads.

He also inspected dykes of the Indus River and saline water drains in the districts and collected cell-phone number of a victim each in the camps to keep in touch with them personally.

He started his visit from Thatta district where he directly went to Gel Mori camp near Pir Patho. “I have come here to see you without informing district administration so that I can witness the conditions you are living in, the relief goods you are receiving, and the attention being given to your problems,” he told the victims.

He said: “Now, I have your cell-phone numbers so that I can talk to you personally to learn about the administration’s response to your problems.”

The flood victims told him that they were getting ration bags and water but doctors had visited them only once so far.

The chief minister talked to the District Health Officer (DHO) and directed him to ensure visits the camps twice a week. He received cell-number from of a camp dweller and told him he would remain in touch with him to keep abreast of their issues.

CM meets schoolchildren

On his way to Monarki dyke of the Indus River, the chief minister stopped his vehicle near some schoolchildren playing near the road and asked them to take him to their school.

The children led him to their school, Govt Primary School Gel Mori, where he inspected classrooms. When the children complained to him that their school did not have electricity, he announced solarizing the school and vowed to visit them again.

Shah then went to Gel Mori Basic Health Unit where doctor on duty told him that most of the flood victims were suffering from malaria and skin diseases. On the last leg of his Thatta’s visit, he went to a camp set up on the river embankment in Gulel area and met with the flood victims. One of the victims told him that five of the camp dwellers had died during past 15 days.

The chief minister expressed his displeasure at the DHO and the district administration and noted cell number of an elder of the camp to keep in contact with him personally.

He concluded his Thatta tour with a visit to the camp set up on Munarchi dyke where he heard the victims’ grievances and issued directives to the deputy commissioner and DHO of Sujawal to resolve their issues. He got cell-phone number from a flood victim living in the camp for interaction.

In Sujawal, Shah inspected vulnerable points along Munarchi dyke from Mile-430 to 450, Spur-T and Spur-J. The chief engineer concerned told him that the deluge had passed along the bund and its vulnerable points were being paved with stones.

“I am happy to see that the water level in the river is receding which will ultimately help dispose of floodwaters in the area on the right bank,” he said.

Murad condoles with bereaved flood victim

In Badin, the chief minister visited a medical camp and then went to offer condolence to Munawar Sami living in a relief camp along the road over the death of his three children in an accident near Amir Ali Shah village.

He announced Rs3 million compensation for the deceased children and sat with the bereaved family for some time in the camp. He directed the DC to set up a tent city for the victims within two days.

He said that Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) had a capacity of 4,000 cusecs for irrigation and drainage of the cities but due to heavy rains its level raised to 12,000 cusecs, which weakened its banks.

Sindh Minister for Irrigation Jam Khan Shoro, Chief Engineer Zarif Khero and director of Nara Canal Area Water Board, Mansoor Memon, briefed the chief minister about the LBOD’s performance for drainage of rainwater.

The chief minister directed them to take measures to plug breach in Dhoro Puran.

He visited Tando Mohammad khan after Badin and then left for Hyderabad. He went to a tent city near Maqbaro Sharif and met flood victims. An elderly woman complained to him that they were not getting ration. The CM asked the DC to provide ration bags to the people in the camp.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2022