MIRPURKHAS: Dhoro Puran developed about 200-foot wide breach near Naukot town, inundating several localities of the town with little efforts on ground by the department concerned to plug the breach.

Floodwaters entered Harejan Colony, Mallah Colony, Darzi Paro while Hakro Dhoro on the other side of the town had already overtopped, flooding crops of cotton, chili, vegetables etc in Jhuddo taluka, and several villages. The villages’ residents had to escape to safer places along with their cattle and valuable belongings.

Local journalists said that drainage division of Mirpurkhas and irrigation department did not take any precautionary measures even when water pressure was increasing in the wake of intermittent rainfall in Jhuddo, Digri, Kot Ghualm Muhammad etc.

They said that a large number of families were shifting to other towns to save their lives and cattle as water had already entered residential colonies in Jhuddo and Naukot towns and dozens of villages.

They said that administration had not yet launched relief work while migration of people continued on a large scale. Dhoro Puran bridges had submerged in water and spinal drain was also overflowing as its capacity had reduced due to accumulation of silt over the past several years, they said.

They claimed that Sindh government had released funds for flood-hit people but the district administration had failed to start relief operation. If the situation persisted further thousands of people more would be compelled to migrate, they warned.

They urged chief minister to ensure distribution of meals, relief goods, tents, mosquito nets and drinking water among those who had taken shelter along roads and in government buildings.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2024