THATTA, May 14: Due to hostile winds from the sea, at least nine villages have been inundated here and the residents are forced to migrate.

The affected villages include Haji Doongar Jat, Mohammad Mallah, Umer Borio, Haji Dhandhal, Ahmed Themore, Haji Hashim Thaheem, Ishaque Themore and Pandi Racho.

Revenue office sources told Dawn that about a dozen dehs, including Karmalik, Siri Lakha, Jim, Chan Belo, Dohar, Oranga and others had also been submerged under sea water, and as a precautionary measure the fishermen had anchored their vessels at Kak Chani, Khado Bunder, Keto, Seerkun, Jugiyoon, Zero Point, Kamro and other creeks.

The fishermen are worried about those who are still in deep sea.

Mohammad Ali Malkani, a former MPA, told this correspondent that the coastal people, particularly after the cyclone of 1999, had been facing starvation.

He said that sea intrusion had destroyed 1,22,360 acres of agricultural land and 1,20,142 acres of riverine forest in Badin and Thatta. He added that the mangrove forests have also been hit.