BAHAWALPUR, Aug 18: At least 20 relief camps have been established to cope with any emergency like situation in the district in the event of flooding in the Sutlej River.

DO (revenue) Ghazi Amanullah Khan said that nine relief camps were set up in Ahmedpur East, five in Khairpur Tamewali, four in Bahawalpur and two in Hasilpur tehsils.

He said that relief goods, including medicines, had been provided to these camps while boats and life jackets to safely evacuate the people were also made available.

In addition, he said 13 bulldozers were sent to the Sutlej bridge to meet any emergency.

Meanwhile, about 6,000 cusecs of water released by India was flowing in the dried-up bed of the Sutlej River on Monday.

The floodwater will spread in a vast tract of land due to heavy silt in the old river course which may affect the standing crops in scores of rural areas in the district.

Irrigation chief engineer Ghulam Hussain Qadri said that about 70,000 cusecs of water was discharged from Sulemanki Headworks on Monday morning.

He said only 40,000 to 50,000 cusecs of water was expected to pass through Bahawalpur’s Empress Bridge between the night of Aug 20 and 21. Since the bridge had the capacity to absorb the flow of about 400,000 cusecs of water, there was no danger to the bridge, he said.