LAYYAH, Aug 1 More than 300,000 people were displaced when high flood in the River Indus devastated 1,200 square kilometre riverine area of the district on Sunday.

More than one million cusec water passing through the river also washed away about 12,000 houses, ravaged 82 revenue states and destroyed standing crops on 250,000 acres.

The flood threatened Layyah city's more than 200,000 residents, as it put huge pressure on the newly constructed two-kilometre long Kukranwala Bund.

At 5pm on Sunday, 1,030,000 cusec water was flowing in the Indus in Layyah district and this flood level is said to be highest ever. Maitlaywala, Mongarwala, Bakhshinda, Aulakh, Machi, Elahi Mouchi, Wadhaywali, Pitafi, Bhand, Gulshair Marral, Daphi, Baseera, Rakhwan, Laskaniwala and Sheenwala were the worst hit areas. Nawarah, Warrah Sehran, Sohal, Sahuwala, Machi, Khair Shah, Chandia, Chan, Shobhaywala, Inayat, Murani Sharki and Garbi, Garrah, Lashari, Gurmani, Mudd, Qazi, Kanjal, Kunal, Chandrer, Bhaidanwali, Naurasi, Merani, Dullo and Samtia localities were severely hit by the flood.

Twelve flood-hit union councils remained disconnected from the district headquarters.

Earlier in the day, the local administration made announcements, asking the residents of Eidgah, Basti Jota, Shahnawaz and Kotla Haji Shah to move to safer places. The floodwater will start receding after midnight on Sunday, said a local expert. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced the government would waive all taxes for the people of 14 flood affected union councils and provide land for the rehabilitation of the people displaced by the flood.

Speaking at Kukranwala during his visit to the flood affected areas, the chief minister said the government would provide more motorboats and a helicopter for rescue work in Layyah district.

The chief minister suspended Taunsa Barrage Executive Engineer Munir Anjum for negligence from duty.

Faiz Muhammad of Basti Bhoga died from snake bite.