THATTA, Aug 21: Flood water inundated 10 villages in kutcha areas as it crossed the 169 kilometres riverine stretch in the Thatta district on Monday. “We are confident of its safe passage to the deltaic point of Kharochhan in the Arabian Sea; flood would not exceed 300,000 to 350,000 cusecs in the Thatta district,” said Qazi Jan Mohammad, incharge EDO revenue. He was briefing a team of journalists at Monarki bund on Monday.

So far 32 families from the right bank and 168 families from the left bank of the Indus river had been shifted to safer places with their cattle and belongings. Over 900 people had been shifted from Surjani kutcha area to safer sites, he added.

Colonel Mohammad Tariq Shad of Badin cantonment, who is in-charge of army monitoring in Thatta, told Dawn that there seemed to be no apprehension of any loss due to the flood.

The downstream gauge installed at Doolha Darya Khan bridge (Thatta-Sujawal Bridge) was showing 274,000 cusecs water passage in Indus at the time of filing this story.

Sources in the irrigation department told this reporter that owing to the pressure of flood on Surjani and Monarki protective bunds, five vulnerable points had been declared sensitive. Stone dumping had been started to save three furlong apron at the points, he said.

Meanwhile, the flood water has inundated villages Allah Rakhio Jakhro, Bohki Jagir, Ali Hyder Shah, Ali Chhuttoa and Sher Mohammad in UC Tando Hafiz Shah and UC Raju Nizamani.

In Katcha area, Helaya, Bao Poorandas, Shah Norko and Surjani forest have also been submerged partially in the flood water.

Upstream discharge at Kotri on Monday was 274,000 cusecs and downstream 272,000 cusecs.