SUKKUR/HYDERABAD, Aug 16 Situation in Thul taluka of Jacobabad is normalising and a number of residents who had left the area last week have started returning to their homes.

Jacobabad city is still safe but floodwater has hit its low lying areas and the authorities were trying to pump out the water.

More than 90 per cent population of the city has moved to safe places. On Sunday evening Garhi Sabhayo and Mochi Basti near Jacobabad were inundated and on Monday Christian graveyard was inundated, where founder of Jacobabad Sir John Jacob is also buried.

Besides, highway between Shikarpur and Jacobabad remains inundated. According to sources, water flow at the highway is reducing but it would take a couple of days to restore road communication between the two cities.

Pressure on Soomra Shakh (canal) has also eased off. Besides, Shahbaz air base is also safe.

However, the railway track between Jacobabad and Quetta is still under water. There is a general impression among people and the farming community from Guddu to Sukkur Barrage

that the current scenario was mostly the outcome of gross negligence of irrigation department which never took any practical step to rehabilitate and strengthen protective embankments of the river and banks of canals as there was no flood during the last 15 years.

During these years, funds were allocated for desilting of rivers and canals and strengthening of the dykes, most of which reached pockets of the officials concerned.

There is a general demand among the people that a comprehensive inquiry be initiated against negligent officials of the irrigation department immediately after end of flood season.

RELIEF ACTIVITIES Lack of coordination is quite visible among different tiers of administration and only a lip service is being offered to the victims.

A visit to relief camps in Sukkur and other areas showed that the staff on duty from education and revenue departments is almost missing while the ruling party leaders continue to make hollow claims on print and electronic media.

Local police is mostly engaged in protocol duty for ministers and chief minister who frequently inspect barrage and dykes, which often is a joy ride for them.

A general feeling is that the visits are nothing but photo sessions, and on some occasions, ugly scenes could be witnessed when ministers and the ruling party leaders distribute food and relief goods among the flood-hit people.

On Sunday, there were clashes between the flood-affected people and rangers personnel and police at a relief camp at Government Degree College, Shikarpur Road, Sukkur, where batons were used against the victims.

These people were demanding regulated supply of food and other essential items to them which, they said, was not received by them during last three days.

It is a common feeling that there is lack of coordination between the flood-affected people and the ruling party and the administration and political mileage, not human sympathy is the aim of those who visit the affectees.

Meanwhile, traders and people of Sukkur are supplying food and other items of daily use in the relief camps.

WATER FLOW Water level at Sukkur Barrage is rising constantly. On Monday evening a flow of 10,21,000 cusec was recorded upstream and 987,000 cusec at downstream.

At Guddu Barrage water flow was recorded at 10,76,000 cusec and according to the irrigation sources, water level at Guddu Barrage would not rise further.

Sources said that second peak would be within safer proportions and pose no threat.

Medium flood started hitting Kotri barrage where 281,987 cusec of water at upstream is recorded. Currently the first peak is being awaited and it might reach here at Kotri Barrage between August 20 and 21. Officials expect a super flood of more than 800,000 cusec at Kotri Barrage.