MUZAFFARGARH: The third part of the Kot Addu RD 34 super dam was washed away by the river Indus in the wee hours of Monday.

Senior officials were present at the affected area all night. They ensured evacuation of the population and reviewed the measures at the spot of erosion.

The district administration had issued an alert in the area a month ago.

According to Deputy Commissioner Syed Munwar Abbas Bukhari, severe erosion started at the truncated edge of the shank portion of J-Head Spur RD 34 and the main flow directly shifted towards the breached part. It became a calamity within half an hour while the water eroded 700 ft of the left edge. The river water is advancing further.

Current discharge at Taunsa is 392,762 cusecs water upstream and 382,262 cusecs downstream while population that was under threat has already been moved out of the area.

The erosion will directly affect the settlements falling in the floodplain. Stone dumping is in progress, but the action is currently beyond control, the DC warned.

The officials of the district administration, Rescue 1122 and police are also at the site.

On Aug 10, the Indus river had swept away 600 feet of 34 RD super dam and three villages — Basti Chandia, Khulangwala, and Leshariwala —had to be evacuated.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2024