LARKANA: After torrential rains, water flowing down into Qambar-Shahdadkot and Larkana districts from Balochistan has put on high alert the administrations and irrigation officials equally. Hill torrents from Khirthar mountain range flow into Right Bank Outfall Drain or Main Nara Velley Drain after passing through Qambar-Shahdadkot district.

The chief engineer of the right bank of the Indus River Mukhtiar Abro was assigned the task of plugging 35 breaches that had occurred in the dykes of RBOD in the 2022 floods. These breaches were 400-700 feet wide at different locations, he said adding that of them, 26 had now been plugged successfully.

The heavy rains on Friday in Dadu and Sehwan and the deluge coming from Balochistan mountains forced the engaged staff to discontinue the rehabilitation work. So far, 60 per cent rehabilitation work initiated on a war footing had been finished, he said. Its length is around 70 miles from RD Zero to RD 346 of Manchhar. When asked about the fate of MNVD in the wake of a huge volume of rainwater descending from Balochistan mountains and entering in Sindh through certain nullahs, he said with the sole aim of saving the MNVD, water was being diverted to Hamal Lake, which at present was filled by only six feet against 22 feet recorded in 2018. Also, water coming from Mirokhan Main Drain was being released into Hamal Lake, instead of allowing it to flow through MNVD. “With these measures, we will save the MNVD from damage,” he hoped.

The recent torrential rains last Friday in Balochistan’s mountain range swelled up the flows in Mollah Nadi, Bhagnari and Shabahi, Baricha (in Balochistan) but now they were moving towards Katchi Pull and Qubo Saeed Khan.

Local journalist told Dawn that after submerging all villages coming in its way, deluges overtopped at certain portions of the RBOD

Nisar Khoso, a resident of Qubo Saeed Khan, said that the flowing rainwater coming from Baluchistan after entering Sindh at Chukhee would definitely mount pressure on Flood Protective (FP) Bund and Saifullah Magsi branch. He stressed the urgent need for strengthening FP Bund and banks of Saifullah Magsi branch.

The videos obtained by Dawn from the site indicated that a powerful water current had washed away a Levies’ post and roared to enter Sindh’s boundaries. It touched the FP Bund and continued to mount pressure, a local journalist said. A vast water sheet in the videos could be seen in the wake of rains in Balochistan.

Commenting on the flood situation, Deputy Commissioner Qambar-Shahdadkot Sajjad Qadri on Friday night told Dawn that rainwater was coming down from Balochistan but through ‘natural routes’. About the weaker state of RBOD-III in the wake of the current monsoon spell, he said himself rushed to the spot [Noorpur] where plugging of breaches was being carried out.

Chief Engineer Right Bank Mukhtiar Abro, who is looking after the huge task of RBOD and MNVD rehabilitation said: “We have parked heavy machinery at every two miles to meet any eventuality.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2024